Blue Ridge Outdoors June 2019 by Summit Publishing

JUNE 2019

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I am IAN PATRICK. I volunteered to do a cleanup day with the James River Associationâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and I completely fell in love with it. It made me feel so good to be connected to nature while making positive change in our community. Now, I help organize and lead cleanups and education days, while also supporting the organization financially. The experience has changed me for the better. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;M A JAMES CHANGER.

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B AC K TA L K MURDER ON THE A.T. PRESIDENT BLAKE DEMASO b l a ke @ b l u e r i d g e o u t d o o r s . c o m E D I TO R I N C H I E F W I L L H A R L A N will@blueridgeoutdoors.com P U B L I S H E R L E A H WO O DY leah@blueridgeoutdoors.com C R E AT I V E D I R E C TO R L AU R E N WO R T H lauren@blueridgeoutdoors.com A S S O C I AT E P U B L I S H E R K AT I E H A R T W E L L katie@blueridgeoutdoors.com E D I TO R I A L & P R O D U C T I O N S E N I O R E D I TO R J E D D F E R R I S jedd@blueridgeoutdoors.com GRAPHIC DESIGNER AMELIA MCCONNELL amelia@blueridgeoutdoors.com T R AV E L E D I TO R E L L E N K A N Z I N G E R ellen@blueridgeoutdoors.com C O N T R I B U TO R S M A S O N A DA M S G R A H A M AV E R I L L A.K. CLEMMONS DA N I E L D E W I T T KIM DINAN

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“The murderer should have been in prison for assaulting A.T. hikers a month earlier in Tennessee, but by not pressing charges, they enabled him to be more brazen.” —Mark Anderson

SANDAL SHAMING “Hiking in sandals and then requiring rescue is ridiculous. I would expect a bill for her extraction to be presented.” —Heybey Lee “The sheriff’s office is only showing the hiker’s footwear, not her face or name. They are just trying to educate folks so people like this hiker are less likely to make dumb choices on such rugged trails in the future.” —Hal Bryson

214 DAYS: PIPELINE BLOCKADES AND TREE SITS “I don’t know which side to support. I found myself supporting the tree sitters. It seems like the pipelines are putting short-term profits ahead of long-term security and public health. But then I read that many of these tree sitters identify themselves as anarchists, which makes it harder for me to be supportive.” —Jim Wallace “Corporations get rich. We get cancer.”—Hollen R. Bill

RICHMOND LANDS WHITEWATER HALL OF FAME “Richmond is a great choice. It’s the only city in the country with class IV rapids inside city limits.” —Jason Burke

“Whatever. Bunch of raft gods. Id much rather see the money spent on protecting and preserving our rivers.” —Truc Yekcam

PRESENT TENSE: CLIMATE CHANGE IS HAPPENING NOW “Many of the problems discussed are from overpopulation, not climate change.” —Roger Hendrick “Climate change is driving conflict all across the globe. Don’t believe in climate change? Ask the military, the Defense Department, and the Pentagon. They sure do. They have been acknowledging it and preparing for it for decades, and they have seen firsthand how increased drought, extreme weather, and resource scarcity are escalating conflicts.” —Dan Sharbaugh TA L K B AC K TO U S H E R E : JUNE 2019 | BLUERIDGEOUTDOORS.COM

C e l e b rat i n g 5 0 Ye a r s o f L ov e 6/1 - DAIRY DAY - LOUDOUN HERITAGE FARM MUSEUM

6/2 - STRAWBERRY FIELDS FOREVER - WEGMEYER FARMS

6/7 - 6/8 - WOODSTOCK IN THE GAP - HILLSBORO OLD STONE SCHOOL 6/13 - FITNESS ON THE PLAZA - ONE LOUDOUN

6/15 - SUBURB THE MUSICAL TAILGATE PARTY - STAGECOACH THEATRE 6/21 - LOVING v. VIRGINIA PANEL - JOHN WESLEY CHURCH

6/21 - FLOWER CROWN MAKING - WATERFORD CORNER STORE 6/22 - COMMUNITY CAMP OUT - ALGONKIAN REGIONAL PARK

6/29 - THE LOVE BUG MOVIE - TOWN OF LOVETTSVILLE TOWN GREEN 7/4 - 4TH OF JULY - TOWNS OF MIDDLEBURG & LEESBURG

7/6 - VINTAGE FLEA MARKET - THE OLD LUCKETTS STORE

7/13 - PURCELLVILLE WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL - FIREMANâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S FIELD CENTER 7/18 - DC101 THIRSTDAY - OCELOT BREWING COMPANY

7/27 - POLO IN THE PARK - LILLY PULITZER THEME - MORVEN PARK 8/4 - PEACH DAZE FUZZTIVAL - GREAT COUNTRY FARMS 8/10 - TASTE LEESBURG - DOWNTOWN LEESBURG

8/17 - SUMMER OF LOVE MUSIC FESTIVAL - B CHORD BREWING COMPANY

JUNE 2019

P H O T O B Y L E V I M O N D AY

F E AT U R E S 24 URBAN PADDLING You don’t have to travel far to squeeze in a day on the water. These nine rivers offer closerto-home paddling adventure. 42 HOMETOWN HEROES Top athletes from across the region reveal their 25 favorite urban adventure hotspots.

from a potentially careerending injury to win the Leadville 100 Mile Race last year. How did she do it? Her first-person essay takes us mile by mile in her footsteps. 56 BLOOD IN THE SNOW Knoxville’s first climber to summit Everest helps rescue a critically wounded Sherpa along the way.

60 DEAD BEARS ON THE HIGHWAY Bear collisions with 49 vehicles are increasing, YOU ARE BEING especially in places like POISONED Interstate 40 adjacent to Virginia native Bucky Bailey is the central figure Great Smoky Mountains in a groundbreaking new National Park. What can Netflix documentary The be done to keep the roads safe for motorists Devil We Know. Bucky and wildlife? takes on a corporate titan to protect his family D E PA R T M E N T S and the health of his hometown—and helps reveal a toxin lurking in all 9 of our bodies and homes. QUICK HITS The Long Creek 53 Gangsters are the bad THE SECRET boys of Chattooga TO WINNING paddling • Paddler LEADVILLE attempts recordKatie Arnold made a breaking 100-mile remarkable comeback circumnavigation of Lake

Lanier • Wild workouts from the world’s fittest man 16 FLASHPOINT The Big Cut: Trump’s New Timber Rule Threatens the Future of Our National Forests 57 THE GOODS Paddling experts pick their personal favorites for whitewater and flatwater fun. 58 TRAIL MIX Sounds of Summer: 5 big tours rolling through the South 66 LAST WORD Small is Beautiful: National parks grab most of the headlines, but state parks are thriving, especially in Southern Appalachia. ON THE COVER Sunrise on Kerr Lake in central Virginia. Photo by Sam Dean @sdeanphotos SamDeanPhotography.com JUNE 2019 | BLUERIDGEOUTDOORS.COM

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OUTDOOR NEWS

BY JEDD FERRIS + KIM DINAN

CAMPING IS ON THE RISE AND CAMPERS ARE MORE DIVERSE THAN EVER Over 78.8 million Americans went camping last year. Among first-time campers, 56 percent are millennials and 51 percent are from non-white groups. And African-American, Hispanic, and Asian American campers now comprise over 27 percent of all campers.

WANT YOUR KIDS TO BE HAPPY ADULTS? GET THEM OUTSIDE AS CHILDREN. A recent study published in the journal PNAS found that growing up near green space is associated with an up to 55 percent lower risk of mental health disorders in adulthood. The study is the largest ever look at the association between mental health and green spaces.

ARE YOU A RISK TAKER? HIKING TRAILS IN SOUTH KOREA’S DMZ ARE NOW OPEN. The United Nations has approved the opening of hiking trails along the heavily fortified North and South Korean border. The “Peace Trail” project, which includes plans to build three trails along the Korean Peninsula’s Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), launched on April 27 with a hiking tour that began at the Unification Observatory and ended at the Mount Kumgang Observatory. The DMZ is 160 miles long. Shut off from the rest of the world for six decades, it has become a haven for an estimated 6,000 species of plants and animals and now, perhaps, hikers as well.

HIKE NAKED DAY On June 21, many Appalachian Trail hikers will be strolling in the skinny. It’s not just an Appalachian Trail tradition; hikers across the region let it all hang out, even for just a short stroll, on the summer solstice.

A.T. HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2019 Four new members of the Appalachian Trail Hall of Fame were inducted in May: Paul Fink, a Tennessee-based historian who helped create Great Smoky Mountains National Park; Jean van Gilder Cashin, information specialist for Appalachian Trail Conservancy who became known for taking pictures of all attempting thruhikers; longtime trail crew leader Robert Proudman; and Donald King, who handles land acquisition for the trail as the chief realty officer of the National Park Service.

700 Number of Dunkin’ Donuts coffee cups Korey Nolan, of Hampton Falls, N.H., used to make a surfboard out of recycled materials for the Upcycle Contest organized by surfing apparel brand Vissla.

OUCH. YOUNG CAMPER’S SNAKEBITE COST $142,000 Nine-year-old Oakley Yoder was walking back to her tent at summer camp last year when she was bitten by a copperhead. First responders recommended Yoder fly via air ambulance to the hospital 80 miles away. Once at the hospital, Yoder received four vials of antivenin called CroFab, the only antivenin available in the U.S. at the time. Less than 24 hours after beng bitten, Yoder was healthy and released from the hospital. Then the bill arrived: $142,000 (Yoder’s parents were responsible for only $3,500 out of pocket). Over $55,000 of the bill was for the air ambulance transport, but a big portion also came from the nearly $17,000 Yoder was charged for each vial of antivenin—more than five times higher than the asking price. A new antivenin called Anavip is just $1,220 per vial—a price that doesn’t bite nearly as much.

THE SNOT OTTER WINS AS PENNSYLVANIA’S OFFICIAL AMPHIBIAN Pennsylvania lawmakers have approved the eastern hellbender, also known as the snot otter, mud devil and by other not-so-flattering names, as the state of Pennsylvania’s official amphibian. Once common throughout the eastern U.S., the animal’s numbers have dwindled. Just last week, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decided not to grant protections to the eastern hellbender under the Endangered Species Act.

FIGHTING FOOD DESERTS More than 120,000 people in Louisville, Ky., live with food insecurity. The nonprofit Hope Buss has stepped up to help those who don't have access to fresh, healthy food, providing free grocery store trips for those in the city without personal transportation.

MURDER ON THE A.T.: MAN PREVIOUSLY ARRESTED FOR THREATENING A.T. HIKERS IN TENNESSEE KILLS A HIKER AND STABS ANOTHER WITH 20-INCH KNIFE A man who has been terrorizing hikers on the Appalachian Trail since at least April has been charged with murder after the brutal attack of two hikers. James Louis Jordan, 30, also known as “Sovereign,” was arrested on May 11 after police followed the SOS signal triggered by one of the victims. A group of hikers camping on Friday night reported being threatened by a man wielding a large knife. The man pursued two of the hikers who fled north, but they were able to elude him and reported the incident to the sheriff’s office. The other two hikers in the group fled south, and the man caught up to and attacked the hikers. The male hiker triggered the SOS signal on his phone before his murder. The female hiker suffered defensive wounds and was seriously injured. She played dead until the attacker left the scene, and then ran for help, eventually encountering another group of hikers six miles away. A Wythe County tactical team entered the forest Saturday morning to locate the SOS signal. While talking with other hikers, Jordan’s dog wandered up to the police and led them to the suspect who was arrested without incident. A 20-inch knife was found along the trail shortly before police discovered the male victim. In late April, Jordan was arrested for drug possession and using a fake ID in Unicoi County, Tenn. Though it was well known that Jordan was threatening hikers along the trail, he was sentenced to probation, fined, and released from jail. Police say they knew Jordan was a threat, but because hikers refused to press charges and testify against him in court, their only recourse was to fine and release him. Homicides are rare on the Appalachian Trail. The last homicide to take place on the famous footpath happened in 2011. JUNE 2019 | BLUERIDGEOUTDOORS.COM

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QUICK HITS

100-HOUR PADDLE

LANIER LAP

JOSH FORESTER IS ATTEMPTING A RECORDSETTING 400-MILE, 100HOUR PADDLE AROUND GEORGIA’S LARGEST LAKE BY WILL HARLAN

HAVE THERE EVER BEEN SIMILAR LAKE CIRCUMNAVIGATIONS?

The only other person to have circumnavigated Lake Lanier was Dana Richardson, as part of her push for pancreatic cancer awareness. It took her 9 months to do it because she was doing it incrementally. I'm going to try to get that down to 5 days. Circumnavigating around the shoreline of a lake is tricky. I had to try to define something that made speed records comparable and fair, and ran it through a number of paddling groups to vet them out.

HOW HAVE YOU BEEN TRAINING?

Paddling multiple times a week four hours at a time; rock climbing

because of the grip strength and core work; running for high intensity cardio cross training. I've also been sleeping in an altitude tent.

WHAT IS ESPECIALLY CHALLENGING ABOUT LAKE LANIER?

Lake Lanier has the longest shoreline of all the lakes exclusively in Georgia. I've lived in the Atlanta area since 2005, and there's a point of pride for me that comes with being a Georgian and all of our natural resources and wilderness recreation opportunities. Being an avid adventurer, I've spent a lot of time flatwater paddling on Lake Lanier. It's kind of a home within my home.

HOW DO YOU TAKE CARE OF YOUR HANDS FOR 100 HOURS OF PADDLING?

I don't know. I've not paddled that long before. It is literally ten times longer than the longest paddle I had ever done. I'm one of those crazy endurance athlete types. So I suppose we have to wait and see. I'm sure some gross photos will come out of it.

JOSH FORESTER ON LAKE LANIER, GA.

HOW WILL YOU HANDLE SLEEP DEPRIVATION?

I've stayed awake for over 40 or so hours continuously, and while exercising. But the key difference there was I had people with me. When you are paddling on a dark lake at night and the water is glass, the rhythmic rocking is quite the siren's call. I do suspect I'll be taking naps on the shoreline—maybe 2-3 hours a night over the course of the 5 days.

WHAT ARE YOU MOST NERVOUS ABOUT? WHAT ARE SOME OF THE UNKNOWNS?

Missing turns. At night it's incredibly easy to miss an inlet.

WHERE DO YOU FIND ENERGY OR INSPIRATION?

Years of adventure racing has taught me that things not going your way

is part of life. I kind of live with that expectation to begin with, and I'm never disappointed. But sometimes I'm pleasantly surprised by the good things that happen. So I guess I just choose different things to notice.

WHAT ARE YOUR GO-TO FOODS AND DRINKS?

Vanilla Ensure Plus. So good with oatmeal creme pies.

ANY QUOTES OR MANTRAS THAT YOU RELY ON?

It's more of a general theme that suffering both reveals and improves upon character. If you really to want to get to know someone, go through something soul-crushingly hard with them. It will reveal who they are. Every now and then, you should get to know yourself in the same way.

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At Blue Ridge School, we are experts in how boys learn best. The result is a college prep program that guides boys to reach their full potential in the classroom and beyond. Our 750-acre campus at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains is home to a renowned Outdoor Program that fosters a respect for nature and leadership skills that last a lifetime.

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QUICK HITS

LONG-CREEK GANGSTERS

BAD BOYS OF WHITEWATER

MEET THE LONG CREEK GANGSTERS BY JESSICA WIEGANDT

A THICK MIST HUNG OVER THE CHATTOOGA

River as the sun rose, bringing the home known as Thugz Mansion to life. A familiar question soon rang out throughout the house: “Hey, can we go kayaking?” Nestled between the Chattooga and Tallulah Rivers in Long Creek, S.C., lives a young group of prominent whitewater kayakers named KLCG, which stands for Keep Long Creek Gangster. Among the members are Hunter Cooper Ben Drew, Jackson Singleton, Holt McWhirt, and Howard Magely. "We were paddling together for a long time," explains Cooper. "People started calling us the Long Creek Boys and saying, ‘Yo, those guys are gangster!’ We thought it was kind of funny and now it’s become this whole thing.” The gangster portion of the title has sparked some controversial conversation in the whitewater community. But the paddlers say their focus is on the water. “People were calling us the Long Creek Gangsters and we were getting

such big hype up about us and we really weren’t doing that much except going kayaking,” Cooper said. “We embraced it and leaned into our times hanging out with each other and doing some crazy stuff.” KLCG became more widely known after they competed in the Green River Rodeo, an annual slicey-boat competition down the Green River Narrows in Saluda, N.C. “We kind of brought slicing back to the Southeast,” Singleton said. “We try to encourage each other and other paddlers to take challenges on the river, which is exactly what slicey boats will do.” KLCG is classified as a club, and they enjoy meeting new people and having them join the crew—including females. “Everyone is KLCG,” Drew said, including women paddlers Rachel Fleischut, Katie Jackson and Katie Dean. “It’s an all-love mindset here," says Singleton. "No one is trying to one-up each other in a terrible way. We have friendly competition and we watch out for each other,” Singleton said. Because the members have sponsorships, they have various media expectations and frequently capture video of the adventures with KLCG. “While media is playing a large role in the development of outdoor recreation now, it shouldn’t be the main focus of why you’re getting out there,” Drew said. “We all go kayaking for the sake of kayaking. If there’s a camera

there, cool. If we get enough video to make an edit, cool. If not, that’s also cool. Odds are, we had a great day kayaking together.” The friends have traveled across the country and world for paddling, Singleton has completed four semesters with World Class Academy traveling around the world to kayak. “A stout moment for all of us happened when we went to Washington and kayaked on Upper Lewis Falls,” Singleton said. “Hunter [Cooper] swam a 20-foot double waterfall.” “I felt like I was in a washing machine,” Cooper said. “All I could do was take a breath at the lip of the second waterfall. Then I just fell and got rag-dolled at the bottom for a while. Finally I balled up and shot straight down until finally I popped up, saw Holt McWhirt, and thought, ‘Thank God.’ It felt like a vortex.” The friends depend on the rescue skills among the group. They have all had moments where the quick actions of the others have made potentially devastating situations calm and organized. “The main thing that keeps us united is to watch out for each other. Of course, we sometimes do other gangster stuff too.” Frequently, the members will organize river cleanups, food drives, and clothing donation centers to support the surrounding community. The group also remains active in

river research and protection against pollution, particularly in the Chattooga River watershed. KLCG as a whole is also attempting to adopt Highway 76 by the Chattooga River to take responsibility for the cleanliness of the road between the put ins and take outs. The Chattooga River is their home river because it is free-flowing and offers new lines at different levels. Singleton said the lines taken and moves made on the Chattooga mimic others he has done around the world. “The Chattooga runs every day of the year. The only thing holding you back is yourself,” McWhirt said. “It’s beautiful, it’s fun, it’s got history, it’s home.” “The river gives a lot to us, so we try to give back any way we can,” Drew adds. While most of the paddlers are either employed full-time or in school, they frequently return to Long Creek to paddle together. “It’s really important to appreciate Long Creek and our ability to explore the beauty,” Drew said, “It’s rare to find a place like this, especially in the Southeast.” “Paddle with people you’re confident in and who are better than you, you’ll always learn something new,” says Singleton. “I’m always getting pushed because these guys are sick kayakers,” Drew said. “Do your thing, stretch, drink lots of water, brush your teeth, and go kayaking."

JUNE 2019 | BLUERIDGEOUTDOORS.COM

QUICK HITS

WILD WORKOUTS

THE FITTEST MAN IN THE WORLD IS STILL AT IT B Y G R A H A M AV E R I L L

ERWAN LE CORRE LIKES TO TALK ABOUT

spearfishing. He can go into detail about fighting the currents and the challenge of holding your breath at the bottom of the sea. How you have to learn about the fish’s behavior. Le Corre lives on Mexico’s coast with his wife and three kids and spends as much time as he can in the water, hunting fish. He and his family like to eat what he catches, but mostly, he likes spearfishing for the challenge. “It’s very demanding,” he says from a café near the beach. “I went for three hours yesterday. I was exhausted at the end, like a stranded animal on the beach.” It’s hard to imagine Le Corre exhausted. A decade ago, the native Frenchman made a splash in the U.S. when he introduced a revolutionary approach to fitness called MovNat that ditched the gym and focused on natural movements in a wild environment: walking, running, balancing, mumping, crawling, climbing, swimming, lifting, carrying, throwing, catching and self defense. MovNat helped usher in the functional fitness movement, and at one point, Le Corre was dubbed the “fittest man alive.” Le Corre has spent the last several years refining and growing the MovNat program by teaching workshops and building an arsenal of certified trainers across the country. This spring, Victory Belt Publishing has released a book, The Practice of Natural Movement, where Le Corre compiles all of his knowledge about the art of natural movement. The book is nearly 500 pages and includes everything from Le Corre’s philosophy about why it’s important for modern humans to get back to more animallike movement patterns, to detailed pictorials that show you step by step how to do movements that Le Corre believes are key to being healthy. Read the book and you’ll learn the basic (how to get up from the ground without using your hands) to the awesome (how to climb a skinny tree with no limbs). We spoke with Le Corre about

his new book, the deficiencies of functional fitness, and the secret to catching a fish with a spear. BRO: So, spearfishing seems to be the exact sort of practice you’re training for with MovNat. Le Corre: It is, because it’s real world, practical. You want to get fish and eat it, but it’s difficult. I don’t believe in training just to be strong or to look good. Fitness starts with a mindset, some sort of expectation—usually to be strong or bigger. That’s the conventional modern expectation of what it is to be in shape and what is sold to us by the industry for decades. So, I’m challenging that with MovNat and with this book. BRO: You helped launch the functional fitness movement, and in your book, you say functional fitness doesn’t go far enough. Le Corre: The problem with functional fitness is that the programs still stray away from anything close to the real world, and how people actually move naturally. Standing on a Bosu ball and doing lunges, you don’t do that in nature. You’re still restricting the idea of fitness to a limited scope of drills that might look functional but don’t transfer to the real world. It’s intellectual masturbation. If you want to do a functional movement, do a natural movement. A movement that is practical. Get up and get down with no support from the hands. That’s natural. That’s practical. Functional fitness at best is highly limited. At worst, it’s complete bullshit. BRO: You’ve been teaching MovNat for a decade, why write a book now? Le Corre: I’ve always wanted to write a book, even before I designed the certification program. I wrote down every detail over the last 10 years, and it took me longer than that to develop and mature my philosophy and practice. It really took me decades to write this thing. BRO: What’s the ultimate goal of your new book? Le Corre: To equip people with the physical and mental skills that you need to perform in time of need in the real world. Every year, millions of kids get out of school and they can’t operate their body in the real world. They can’t even breathe correctly or stand up correctly. They’re clumsy and

E R WA N L E C O R R E R E C E N T L Y PUBLISHED A BOOK ABOUT N AT U R A L F I T N E S S .

weak. That’s the truth. How does that happen? Kids live and grow indoors. They don’t play outside anymore. They don’t naturally develop any strength or cardio capacity. And then they grow up to be clumsy and weak adults. The ultimate goal of this book is to provide a physical education that modern people don’t get anymore. A lot of people are inept and have a complete lack of physical capability in the real world. I want to provide that education. BRO: In your book, you discuss some heady topics that usually aren’t broached in fitness manuals—the environment, mindfulness—what do these topics have to do with moving naturally? Le Corre: We’ve been led to believe that fitness is a purely physical thing--it’s mechanistic, based on an anatomical understanding of the body. That idea is limited and compartmentalized and it’s been failing so many people who get bored, step off the elliptical and think fitness isn’t for them. But fitness is about more than

just strength or cardio. It’s about the freedom that natural movement gives you, and mindfulness, the environment are all a part of it. BRO: And yet, your book is very practical. You spend pages showing readers how to do the most practical of movements. Le Corre: Yeah, it boils down to this: Are you capable or not? That’s the litmus test. If something happens, can you sprint? Can you fight? Can you carry? BRO: In that light, your new obsession with spearfishing makes sense. What’s the secret to catching a fish with a spear? Le Corre: Patience. You’re not fast enough to swim after a fish. You have to let them come to you. You have to let yourself sink and then you freeze. You have to do your absolute best to be completely relaxed under water. Let the fish swim in front of you and then pounce.

JUNE 2019 | BLUERIDGEOUTDOORS.COM

FLASHPOINT

TIMBER RULE

THE BIG CUT

TRUMP’S NEW TIMBER RULE THREATENS THE FUTURE OF OUR NATIONAL FORESTS B Y E L I Z A B E T H M C G O WA N

BE IT SALAMANDER, NEWT, FROG OR TOAD,

Asheville biologist J.J. Apodaca professes to be equally protective of all amphibians. Press him hard enough, however, and he reveals a soft spot for the green salamander. Over millennia, these ancient, lungless vertebrates have created an intricate relationship with old growth, temperate rain forests of the Southern Appalachians. Each spring, green salamanders emerge from their winter hideouts deep in rock crevices and climb giant, native trees. Grooved barks and hollows provide refuges as they dart about feasting on insects. By late summer, females retreat to the rocks, scouting out perfect hidden chambers for egg-laying. Unlike some other amphibian mothers who leave the “nest” quickly, this plucky green parent-to-be—all three to five inches of her—stands guard, coating her eggs with skin secretions to ward off killer bacteria, 16

viruses and other pathogens. That tender, protective act is just one reason Apodaca is speaking up for saving this at-risk species, now being considered for endangered status. He fears a little-noticed Trump administration directive to the U.S. Forest Service to log more board feet of timber threatens the salamanders’ very existence. “We have to take a stand for the things we care about on public lands,” said Apodaca, director of science for the Amphibian and Reptile Conservancy. “The choice we have as a society is: do we value biodiversity or do we just value timber production?” The executive order, quietly rolled out four days before Christmas in the name of curbing wildfires, calls on the Forest Service to boost its nationwide timber output by 31 percent—to 3.8 billion board feet from the 2.9 billion cut in 2017. Ecologists view the order as a smokescreen. Out West, logging isn’t an antidote for huge, intense, and deadly wildfires. Thinning might make sense near homes, fire specialists say, but cutting trees won’t halt fires when weather extremes caused by climate change are becoming the norm. In the Southeast, where such catastrophic fires are extremely rare, the order is seen as a ruse to promote

BLUE RIDGE OUTDOORS | JUNE 2019

“WE HAVE TO TAKE A STAND FOR THE THINGS WE CARE ABOUT ON PUBLIC LANDS. THE CHOICE WE HAVE AS A SOCIETY IS: DO WE VALUE BIODIVERSITY OR DO WE JUST VALUE TIMBER PRODUCTION?” - J.J. APODACA, AMPHIBIAN AND REPTILE CONSERVANCY unsustainable logging in one of the country’s prime timber baskets. Yes, the region has plenty of dry, southfacing slopes, but wildfires in what’s classified as temperate rain forest are generally localized and don’t run amok. After decades of suppressing wildfires, the Southeast has adopted a strategy of restoring historic, natural fire regimes via prescribed burns on private and public lands. It’s these controlled fires—not logging—that reduce fuel loads in forests and keep fire-dependent ecosystems such as the long-leaf pine healthy. “For all the rhetoric about wildfire, the Forest Service is going to look for rich, moist forests that grow big trees. And those are in the South,” said Sam Evans, an attorney at the Southern Environmental Law Center’s Asheville office since 2011. “This will take a toll on our forests.” Nobody outside the agency can say exactly what Trump’s executive order means for the Nantahala-Pisgah

National Forest. But Apodaca and Evans are paying close attention because the Forest Service is on the cusp of releasing a draft plan that spells out how those 1.1 million acres in North Carolina will be managed over the next 30 years. Globally, the region is valued as a biodiversity hotspot, a wildlife corridor, a drinking water source, and a haven for paddlers, hikers, and bicyclists. Local conservationists say the loophole-laden order will be a mammoth setback to hard-fought gains sought to balance preservation of natural resources, recreational access, and livelihoods in local communities. They are alarmed that the order instructs the Forest Service to undermine the scientific review, public participation, and oversight that keeps trees standing and salamanders thriving. “Basically, the Forest Service would be able do what they want to do. If we get wind of what’s going on, the only way we could intervene is to take them to federal court,” Evans said. “There would be no conversation and no chance to comment.” Already, the law center has resorted to a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit to discover how 3.8 billion board feet will translate to logging quotas in the Nantahala-Pisgah Forest.

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Dillard Canyon and Cliffs (NHNA)

/ Toxaway River Headwaters (NHNA)

Panthertown Valley (NHNA)

Bald Rock Mountain/Little Bald Rock Mountain (NHNA)

4674E

Big Sheep Cliff Ridge (NHNA)

4674

Yellow Mountain/Blackrock Mountain (NHNA)

Horsepasture River Bog (NHNA)

Toxaway Mountain (NHNA)

Hurricane Lake Bog (NHNA)

4539A 4539

Grassy Camp Creek Bogs (NHNA)

Cole Mountain/Shortoff Mountain (NHNA)

Nix Mountain (NHNA)

High Hampton/Chattooga Ridge Natural Area (NHNA)

45 49

454 5

4545A

332A

Rainy Knobs (NHNA)

Timber Ridge (NHNA)

Whiteside Mountain/Devils Courthouse (NHNA)

Skitty Branch Cove (NHNA)

SAV/Savannah River Headwaters Aquatic Habitat (NHNA)

Cpt 77

Cpt 28

4542

Henry Wright/Kelsey Hemlock Forests (NHNA)

Little Terrapin Mountain Cliffs (NHNA)

Cpt 33

Silver Run Preserve/Sassafras Mountain (NHNA)

Thompson River Gorge (NHNA) 45

65 87

Ravenels Woods Remnants (NHNA)

Horsepasture River Gorge (NHNA)

Cpt 39 4598

Cpt 38

Chattooga River Gorge/Ellicott Rock (NHNA)

Cpt 49

4616 4563

1A 40

Cpt 75 117

30 4629

4567A 4567A

Whitewater River Falls and Gorge (NHNA)

Unit 41/42 41/42 2-Age 22.7 Acres

Unit 40/42 40/42 2-Age 23.21 Acres

WHITEWATER FALLS

State Line Rx Burn 1765.22 Acres

Ellicott Mountain Pogonia Site (NHNA)

Cpt 36

Cpt 30

Hawkins Rockhouse (NHNA)

Unit 40/21 40/21 Group Selection 176.27 Acres

Cpt 37

4567

4630

Unit 40/13 40/13 Group Selection 125.48 Acres

Dulany Bog (NHNA)

301C

Unit 29/16 29/16 2-Age 7.21 Acres

4564

Cpt 29

Unit 35/42 35/42 2-Age 24.86 Acres 456

Cpt 32

Bull Pen Rx Burn 722.07 Acres

624A

401B

Slick Rock (NHNA)

0.6 7 Mile s

Cpt 35

22 46

367

401

367A

4524

Unit 29/15 29/15 Group Selection 43.55 Acres

Unit 41/44 41/44 Group Selection 54.2 Acres

Unit 41/41 41/41 2-Age 31.68 Acres 0.25 s Mile

Unit 41/47 41/47 Group Selection 32.58 Acres

Unit 41/53 41/53 2-Age 15.33 Acres

Cpt 40

Unit 35/41 35/41 2-Age 25.79 Acres

0.18

Miles Restoration Rx Burn 26.69 Acres

2052

Unit 29/11 29/11 Group Selection 79.12 Acres

Big Creek Falls (NHNA)

Cpt 34

Unit 31/20 31/20 Group Selection 24.45 Acres

335 46

Hand line

2054

The Fodderstacks (NHNA)

Unit 41/40 41/40 2-Age 25.42 Acres

Cpt 41

Satulah Mountain (NHNA)

Brushy Face Mountain/Brooks Creek Waterfall (NHNA)

329

Cpt 31

Horse Cove Bog (NHNA)

4521

Terrapin Mountain (NHNA)

89A

Unit 31/18 31/18 2-Age 19.69 Acres

328

Blackrock Mountain/Granite City (NHNA)

Highlands Sixth Street Bog (NHNA)

4566

Highlands

357A

Skirting transparency required by long-hallowed rules such as the Endangered Species Act and the National Environmental Protection Act in the name of expediency would be wrong, Evans said. “All agencies are supposed to be accountable to the public,” he said. “Shorting public participation in the name of increasing board feet can create bitter social conflicts. That’s what is at stake.” Indeed, Trump’s order is nowhere near the peak of 12 billion board feet harvested in the late 1980s, but it would double the 2009 low of 1.9 billion. Still, the jump from 2.9 billion board feet in 2017 to 3.4 billion in 2018 has Evans on edge because it mimics an uptick during the middle of George W. Bush’s two-term presidency. Between 2003 and 2006, the harvest climbed 62 percent, according to Forest Service numbers. And 43 percent of that came from the South, even though the region has only 6.9 percent (13 million acres) of Forest Service lands. “We’re headed for exactly that, if you look at the trend line,” said Evans, who leads the law center’s national forests and parks program. “And as the Forest Service ramps up, the biggest tragedy is the hit to its reputation. It will not recover for decades.” But Forest Service spokeswoman Cathy Dowd said the agency sees the executive order as beneficial for tackling wildfires, invasive species, insects, disease and other land management challenges. “We understand the concern some have about these new authorities,” she said about what the agency considers a new tool “to help us accomplish our mission of sustaining the health, diversity and productivity of the nation’s forests.” The Forest Service released a preliminary draft of the NantahalaPisgah plan in 2014. Immediately, there was widespread opposition to the Forest Service's proposals for logging in remote areas with high concentrations of old growth and rare habitats. Such intense pushback prompted planners to promise a reboot, but conservationists say the agency has adopted a culture of secrecy during the do-over. “Lately, they haven’t shared anything substantive,” Evans said. “I

4674D

TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY CAST ASIDE

Disclaimer: The Forest Service uses the most current and complete data available. GIS data and product accuracy may vary. They may be: developed from sources of differing accuracy, accurate only at certain scales, based on modeling or interpretation, incomplete while being created or revised, etc. Using GIS products for purposes other than those for which they were created, may yield inaccurate or misleading results. The Forest Service reserves the right to correct, update, modify, or replace, GIS products without notification. For more information, contact: GIS Coordinator USDA Forest Service National Forest in North Carolina P.O. Box 2750 Asheville, NC 28802-2750

0.5

think that’s a mistake. You can’t get buy-in without getting feedback from the public.” Meanwhile, the Forest Service is proceeding with several timber management projects presented in that preliminary draft. Those include the Twelve Mile, Southside. and the Buck logging projects.

TWELVE MILE PROJECT EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS

Evans called Twelve Mile, a 20,000acre project in Haywood County, N.C., one that “would pass muster as a good plan.” A portion of it involves improving elk habitat, and it’s adjacent to Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Interstate 40. Evans praised Jason Herron, the Twelve Mile project lead, for adhering to what should be the agency’s guiding principles of transparency, accountability and public participation—ones that the executive order is intent on shredding. Beginning in summer 2016, the agency invited interested parties to a series of Twelve Mile meetings and

Miles 5

Tempory Road Construction

Proposed 2-Age Treatment

All OG Areas

Analysis Area

USFS Trails

Proposed Group Selection

Suggested NC Natural Heritage Natural Areas (NHNA)

Analysis Area Compartments

USFS Roads

Prior Completed Group Selection

Recreation Areas

Wilderness

Roads

Thinning

Existing Wildlife Openings

Private Land

Rx Burn Hand Line

Restoration Burn

Cities

field trips. Herron said the gatherings allowed participants to parse out conflicts, data needs, and partnership possibilities. “These collaborative engagement tools are useful because they create a framework where all participants can have an opportunity … to learn,” he said. “My key takeaway is the trust and partnership that have been elevated.” Herron said he expects to release the Twelve Mile environmental analysis for public comment in April or May. The project calls for trees to be cut on about 2,400 acres; roughly 1,900 of those acres involve commercial timber sales. What Evans finds promising is how it calls for “cutting trees in the right places” instead of going after old growth trees and areas valued for recreation and natural heritage. “I’m not saying it is all perfect, but I watched how hard Jason worked to get this project right,” Evans said. “I’m really impressed with the care the Forest Service took to incorporate feedback.” That give and take is what seeded more community cooperation than

Date Saved: 2/8/2018

USDA, FS, and BLM Personnel

MANY OF THE PURPLE-SHADED OLD-GROWTH A R E A S A R E TA R G E T E D F O R L O G G I N G I N T H E U . S . FOREST SERVICE’S SOUTHSIDE PROJECT IN NORTH C A R O L I N A’ S P I S G A H - N A N TA H A L A N AT I O N A L F O R E S T.

conflict, he said.

SOUTHSIDE RECEIVES ALL-AROUND THUMBS DOWN On the other hand, Evans joins most conservationists with his lack of enthusiasm for the Southside projects environmental assessment completed in mid-February by Nantahala District Ranger Mike Wilkins. The project’s 19,000 public acres are east of Highlands, straddling Macon and Jackson counties. Chief among their complaints are that it sacrifices too much salamander habitat by replacing mature trees with early successional forests that deer, turkey, bear, rabbit, and other game species count on and hunters favor. They are also upset that logging is proposed on some sensitive areas that could be recommended as wilderness areas in the 30-year plan. Critics say these “bad tradeoffs”

JUNE 2019 | BLUERIDGEOUTDOORS.COM

are a precursor for what will unfold in the Southern Appalachians, especially when an underfunded Forest Service is directed to harvest more board feet. Apodaca, the scientist, knows that logging big old trees too close to known salamander populations will limit the amphibians’ access to mates, thus leading to inbreeding and dieoffs. Massive losses of chestnuts and hemlocks have already added to the creature’s habitat woes. While Wilkins’ vow to leave 328foot buffers of trees around rocky outcrops sounds promising, scientists said such buffers will instead dry out the forest as rhododendrons and other shrubby plants grow in the clearings. “The idea of a buffer pays lip service to a rare species rather than paying attention to its full recovery,” Apodaca says. “All you’re doing is creating a postage stamp of a zoo for salamanders. It’s a myopic view of species management.” What also upsets Apodaca is that plenty of board feet could be harvested elsewhere in the NantahalaPisgah Forest that wouldn’t put the squeeze on at-risk species. Wilkins said that although he was “disappointed we could not make everyone happy,” trade-offs are part of

the process. “We make decisions based on the best possible science,” he continued. “Forests need diversity and all ages of trees. What’s missing from the Southside area is young forest.” Wilkins expects to start the Southside timber projects in 2021.

IT’S THE “WHERE” THAT MATTERS

Apodaca and Evans emphasize that as conservation science has evolved, where the Forest Service cuts trees matters hugely. And choosing those places means dedicating time, care, and resources to getting it right. However, when more money is shifted to fill the timber sales pipeline quickly, everything else, from public participation to trails to research, is squeezed. “The money has to come from somewhere, so they spend less by taking shortcuts,” Evans said. “The science of ecological forest management takes a lot of staff time and it’s really hard when it’s complicated by rare species and the interests of lots of recreational users. “You can’t design an activity to benefit one resource without affecting another, so you have to keep all of

BLUE RIDGE OUTDOORS | JUNE 2019

THE FOREST SERVICE HASN’T SHARED ANYTHING SUBSTANTIVE ABOUT THE UPCOMING FOREST PLAN. I THINK THAT’S A MISTAKE. YOU CAN’T GET BUY-IN WITHOUT GETTING FEEDBACK FROM THE PUBLIC.” —SAM EVANS, SOUTHERN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CENTER ATTORNEY them in mind.” Everybody loses when a district ranger can’t—or won’t—take the time to conduct comprehensive green salamander surveys before rolling out projects such as Southside, says Apodaca. At best, he said, the information presented was cursory, inaccurate, and inadequate. It’s shameful, Evans said, when the Forest Service doesn’t have a big enough budget to devote the proper number of biologists, botanists, and other staffers to conduct proper scientific studies. “The big picture is that the Forest Service knows how to do all of this the right way and do it well,” Evans said. “It’s when it chases bad and controversial work that it shuts down relationships between people and the land.” Dowd, the Forest Service

spokeswoman, didn’t directly answer a question about whether a mandate to significantly increase logging would compromise biodiversity in the Southern Appalachians. “Even with this new timber volume goal, we will continue to manage our forests in accordance with our forest management plans,” she said, adding that healthy and resilient forests depend “on our ability to increase work on the ground and achieve better outcomes.”

THE FIGHT FOR OLD GROWTH

Like the law center, the nonprofit Chattooga Conservancy is part of the Nantahala-Pisgah Forest Partnership. The partnership is a cross-section of local stakeholders offering the Forest Service specific recommendations as the 30-year plan is shaped. One reason the conservancy, founded in Clayton, Ga., in 1994, opposes tree cutting laid out in the Southside project is because of potential harm to the watershed of the Chattooga, a wild and scenic river that flows from North Carolina. Executive Director Nicole Hayler wants Southside to be withdrawn until the new Nantahala-Pisgah Forest

Plan is in place because she says the project doesn’t preserve enough existing old growth and is based on outdated and inadequate science. For instance, she said it’s ecologically unsound for iconic landmarks such as 3,500-foot Brushy Mountain and an area near the Granite City boulder field to be included among the 16 separate areas across 317 Southside acres that will be logged to make way for early successional habitat. Last fall, two student researchers at the Highlands Biological Station, which is affiliated with the University of North Carolina, took core samples of trees in sections of 26-acre Brushy Mountain and 20-acre Granite City. Ring counts revealed trees that qualify as old growth. For instance, a white oak on Brushy Mountain was found to be at least 211 years old. In Granite City, the students found a 127-year-old white oak and a 145-yearold northern red oak. A separate core sample revealed a 180-year-old red oak. “They just need to be left alone,” Hayler said about those trees. Granted, the students didn’t have time to sample every tree, she said, but even their limited data proved that

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Wilkins wasn’t diligent enough about conducting on-the-ground science. Wilkins countered that the 16 stands identified for regeneration or thinning, which include Brushy Mountain and Granite City, “do not meet the definition of old growth. They have some old trees, but they are all stands that display evidence of past management activity.” He also said that no timber management is planned for Granite City proper because the boulder field popular with visitors has been “set aside for recreation and visuals.” Hayler said she understands that. Her concern is with a section of existing old growth targeted for cutting that is roughly 1,500 feet from the rocky landscape, and considered part of the Granite City area. The Forest Service should focus on connecting patches of existing old growth to preserve rare resources and help the green salamander recover, she said. “We have to ramp up protection in these areas, not open them up to more extraction,” Hayler said. BUZZ WILLIAMS USING AN INCREMENT BORER TO C O L L E C T A C O R E S A M P L E F R O M A R E P R E S E N TAT I V E T R E E I N T H E O L D G R O W T H S TA N D O N B R U S H Y M O U N TA I N . / P H O T O B Y N I C O L E H AY L E R

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Wilkins pointed out that close to 7,000 acres—more than onethird of the 19,000 acres comprising Southside—are set aside as designated old growth. Within a decade, 11,000 acres will be at least 100 years old and moving toward old growth, he says. “The Southside project does not diminish the old-growth character of the analysis area,” he said. Hayler said the Forest Service’s use of the word “designated” misleads the public because right now such trees are much too young to qualify as old growth—and might never. Her conservancy is afraid that the 30-year-plan won’t adequately protect existing old growth because input is coming from the same Forest Service managers that approved Southside.

WILL RARE SALAMANDERS BE LOST TO THE CUT?

Any conversation about defining old growth trees, never mind forests, is tricky, especially in a region denuded of so many trees before the Forest Service started managing Pisgah in 1916 and Nantahala in 1920. After forests re-grew, citizens became fiercely protective of their incomparable natural resources. That’s

A GREEN SALAMANDER IN NORTH CAROLINA. PHOTO BY J.J. APODACA

partially why public blowback to the last Nantahala-Pisgah Forest Plan, released in 1987, was so ferocious. It called for volumes of clear-cutting that were even opposed by counties with long histories of timber-based economies. The Forest Service responded to that outcry by scaling the practice way, way back. A Forest Service guidance document defines the minimum age for old growth in the South as between 120 and 140 years, depending on species mix, moisture, fire risk and other factors. Studies show that the NantahalaPisgah Forest is home to roughly

90,000 acres of the estimated 250,000 acres of old-growth forest left standing in the Southern Appalachians. Many of those trees have lived well beyond 140 years. Tragically, industrial-scale clearcutting at the turn of the 20th century was intense. After logs were floated down rivers and loaded onto trains, denuded mountainsides eroded and rootless soil cascaded into waterways, destroying habitat for fish, birds, amphibians, mammals and other species. Any conversation about managing old growth circles back to the green salamander.

Apodaca, the amphibian expert who spoke up for the silent salamander as the Southside project was shaped, said Trump’s executive order will mute people’s voices, too. “If we raise concerns and still these projects are pushed through anyway, why even have public comment?” he asked. “If you want more board feet, that will trickle down to amphibians and all the other goals and priorities people value public lands for,” he continued. “It’s hard but not impossible to manage all of these things concurrently.” Apodaca wonders how many people are aware that the Southern Appalachians are the world’s salamander capital. He aligns with author Barbara Kingsolver’s idea that if the region designed a flag, the amphibian should be its centerpiece. “Salamanders are to Southern Appalachia what the buckeye is to Ohio,” he said. “It’s part of our natural history that we should value and cherish.” Elizabeth H. McGowan is a longtime energy and environment reporter who lives in Washington, D.C. She won a Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting in 2013.

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BLUE RIDGE OUTDOORS | JUNE 2019

Explore Your Backyard

9 CLOSETO-HOME PADDLING ADVENTURES

BY ELLEN KANZINGER

S TA R T O F T H E M I G H T Y C U M B E R L A N D R I V E R R U N , PA R T O F T H E K E N T U C K Y WAT E R M A N S E R I E S . / P H O T O B Y G E R R Y S E AV O J A M E S .

A N G E L V E R D E PA D D L E S A R A P I D O N T H E S O U T H R I V E R I N WAY N E S B O R O , VA . / P H O T O B Y E L L E N K A N Z I N G E R

hen you think about paddling in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast, rivers like the Gauley, James, Nantahala, and Chattooga get a lot of the love. While these rivers offer paddlers of all types epic adventures and scenic views, they are not always the most accessible rivers. “It doesn’t always have to be extreme,” said paddler Angel Verde. “You can have something that’s just fun and gets you out there. It’s a matter of taking advantage of your own sense of adventure and going for it. As these paddlers can attest, the lesser-known rivers have just as much to offer if you’re willing to take the time and put yourself out there.

A RIVER RUNS THROUGH DOWNTOWN

After leaving his job in international logistics, David Hennel and his wife moved to Waynesboro, Va. where he is now a high school teacher. “We chose Waynesboro because I’m an outdoor junkie,” he said. “I came through hiking years ago. We decided this would be a nice place to kind of chillax for the remainder of the years. You’ve got the busy Appalachian Trail. But if you want to avoid crowds, you go to the west end of the valley and nobody’s hiking the trails over there.” Located at the southern terminus of Shenandoah National Park, Waynesboro is less than five miles from where the Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive meet. Flowing right through town, the South River is even more accessible to anyone looking to get outside. “I paddle like some people go for a walk,” Hennel said. “As a small river, the South is not really a threatening river whatsoever. It’s really just a delightful river to relax on but yet it still has enough

rapids in a few spots that make it a little more exhilarating. The fact that it’s close makes it that much better. It doesn’t eat up all your time. My day teaching ends at 3:15, so I’m meeting up at the takeout at Rife [Park] at 3:40 and I’m home before my wife is from her five o’clock get off work thing.” When the weather is nice and river conditions are right, Hennel said he will sometimes paddle three to four times a week. “Every time I go down that river, I say to my paddling buddy, 'We are so spoiled,'” Hennel said. “We really are. I paddle more than anybody I know just because the river is in my backyard.” Since moving to the area 15 years ago, Hennel has started to see more locals taking an interest in the river. “At first it was like I owned the place,” he said. “I wouldn’t see anybody. Occasionally you’d get some other hardcore paddlers that would show up when the water was real high.” Today, Hennel runs the South River Paddler Facebook page where other local paddlers detail river conditions, organize river cleanups, and plan group paddles. The community is starting to see the river as another amenity that could be developed into an economic driver. The river already connects the city’s five major parks with boat ramps at each location for easy access. “There are some people who think we’re going to bring manufacturing back into the Waynesboro area,” Hennel said. “I’m seeing the students, the future labor force, and I really don’t see us heading in that direction because we don’t have the labor for that type of economic activity. But I do see that we have a lot of really great outdoor and historical amenities that we have to offer. The South River is definitely one of those.” Dwayne Jones, the director of Waynesboro Parks and Recreation, said he too has seen a change in how locals view the South River since he started with

the department 25 years ago. “Folks looked at it as a negative aspect because properties were flooded,” he said. “Ideas began to change, slowly over time, that the river could be an asset to the city and its community. In the last five to seven years in our department, we have been making a concerted effort to put people on the river." In addition to adding more boat ramps along the river, the city is building a paved greenway that follows the river and connects the parks. The city is working to get the four mile stretch of river that runs through town designated as a scenic river. During the summer months, the parks department offers a kayak rental program on weekends. For a low cost, people can get on the water and paddle around Ridgeview Park. Occasionally, they also provide guided trips down the river for paddlers who are not as comfortable going out on their own. “When we take people down the river, they experience the city from a whole different perspective,” Jones said. “You experience Waynesboro’s industrial heritage because you pass the old DuPont plant. You drift in and out of neighborhoods. Then you go into forested areas adjacent to our parks, and you can’t tell you’re in the city.” Waynesboro’s industrial heritage is one of the reason locals stayed away from the river for so long. In the early 1900s, mercury from the DuPont plant made its way into the river through soil erosion. For decades, it went untreated. “That mercury binds with the soil particles,” Jones said. “It gets into the snails. The fish eat the snails, the birds eat the fish. So, it quickly gets through the food chain.” Since the 1970s, the EPA and Virginia Department of Health have warned people not to eat fish caught from the South River. As part of the legal settlement, DuPont is now testing the river to find the highest deposits of JUNE 2019 | BLUERIDGEOUTDOORS.COM

mercury and removing layers of soil for treatment for two miles of river on each side of the plant. They are in the third phase of the remediation project focused on restoring the river and habitat, which includes fishing access points in the parks.

A RIVER UPGRADE

For paddlers looking for a little more than a float down the river, a group of paddlers are working to install a surf park on the South River near North Park. When Angel Verde moved to the Shenandoah Valley, he started exploring the area for places to paddle. “I would just drive,” he said. “I started finding all of these stretches of river and the South River was one of the first ones I explored. I started out downtown and then I found out there were other parks and boat ramps downstream. It seems like in the last few years, just out of dumb luck, the same time I’ve been exploring and paddling this river more, the city and Parks and Rec is putting more time and effort into it. People don’t realize that these boat ramps are here and there’s not a lot of public knowledge about it.” A friend of Verde’s noticed a naturally occurring wave on the river where they could surf on their standup paddleboards and kayaks. “There were some small things that I did to it after starting to paddle there frequently like moving large rocks that could interfere with the main space of the wave or could be foot traps,” Verde said. “If I was going to be encouraging people to come to this section to paddle, I wanted to make sure it was safe.” Verde enlisted the help of other local paddlers to

help him move some of the larger rocks. Within the last few months, he has started meeting with other community members like Hennel and Jones to find funding for other improvements to the wave park. “It’s probably an eighth of a mile from the first feature to the last wave,” he said. “So, you have this large section of river that sits right along North Park. We would be taking advantage of the grade of the river that’s already established there and making those features more prominent. Such as putting in eddies and creating a riverbed surface that actually generates a more usable rapid. It’s really taking advantage and very carefully taking control of what the river is doing in a place where it’s already ideal for these kind of features without causing drastic interruption.” Since there is no money for a project like this in the city budget, these paddlers are looking to the community. Verde has already spoken with engineers from the McLaughlin Whitewater Design Group about the logistics of putting in a wave park on the river. “We could get a few more features in there that would allow people to work on catching eddies, work on their surfing, and getting to play in the water,” Hennel said. “We don’t have enough for some major whitewater aspect, but we do have enough drop where we can accommodate some features that would allow especially the beginners and intermediates to come and actually improve their game.” A surf park like this, which are typically found on larger rivers like the Gauley or James, would be one more amenity for locals and a draw for people who

live farther away. “On the industry level, the most high-profile river waves are these big, high flow river waves,” Verde said. “They are very high performance and the learning curve to be able to actually surf the wave that big is a pretty steep entry point. These are meant for experienced paddlers and river surfers or people who are willing to just get beat up until they learn how to do it. Whereas a wave on a river that flows like the South River does has a much broader entry level. You can take kids out onto a wave that flows that low or tube on a wave that low. It’s approachable in a broad sense.” Ultimately, Verde hopes this project will encourage more paddlers of all skill levels to explore the area they live in. “Rivers like the South River are really prime candidates for bridging that gap between something approachable that people can learn the skills that they can then translate to larger, more aggressive man made or natural features,” Verde said. “It’s really trying to facilitate and build the community to a broader audience versus just catering to the diehards.”

THE SISTER RIVER

Not too far from Waynesboro and the South River, volunteers with the Friends of the Middle River are facing a different kind of access problem. “There are no public access sites anywhere on our river,” Kate Guenther said. “It is completely privately owned. A lot of people don’t know about the river because they can’t get to it.”

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In 2010, Friends of the Middle River formed in response to a Virginia Department of Environmental Quality report that stated the Middle River was impaired. Guenther is the organization’s watershed administrator and only paid employee. “We’re all agriculturally based,” she said. “We don’t have any big urban areas on our river or industry, unlike the South River that has all sorts of fallout from industry. But we have the fallout from agriculture. We have increased E. coli bacteria in the river from cows being in the river, increased sediment in the river from run off and farm practices, and increased nitrogen from farm practices and fertilization practices.” In addition to organizing water quality testing and river cleanups, the Friends of the Middle River started a river access program to address the lack of public land along the river. “We coordinate between private landowners who are willing to have people come onto their property just so that they can put in and take out their boats on the river,” Guenther said. “Our program is a voluntary thing where certain landowners who are okay with people coming down are listed. If people sign up for the program, they of course have to agree to be nice to the landowners and the land, take care of it, and follow all of the rules.” In its first year, seven private properties have been added to the program and 100 participants registered from around the area. The program is free but does require registration to participate. Once registered, participants receive a placard for their car window. Whenever a paddler

wants to use one of the private properties as a put in or take out spot, they have to make arrangements with those specific landowners “People who are local around here really do seem excited about it,” Guenther said. “This opens up a new venue for fishing and boating that was completely inaccessible before. But it’s something you do have to plan a little bit in advance to make those connections with the private landowners for permission.” The Middle River runs 70 miles in Central Virginia before joining with the North River to form the South Fork of the Shenandoah River. With the private properties currently signed on, 44 of those miles are available for paddling with put ins and take outs. “When we list a private property as an access point, we’re going out and scouting it,” Guenther said. “We’re making sure that you can pull in there and park. So, these are pretty accessible sites, but they’re not developed boat ramps.” During the summer, the Friends of the Middle River organize group trips on the river. "The purpose of those float trips really is to make it easy for people to use this river,” Guenther said. “For people who feel like they need a little extra help getting used to going onto private land, they can join our float trip and actually see the put in and take out in a facilitated way. Hopefully once they’ve done it once, they’ll feel comfortable initiating it themselves down the line.” As the program continues to grow, Guenther said they will continue to look for more landowners to partner with to increase the river’s accessibility.

CALLING ALL PADDLERS

Instead of focusing on a singular body of water, the organizers behind the Kentucky Waterman Series aim to introduce paddlers to a variety of waterways through a paddle race series. Gerry Seavo James started the series as a part of the Explore Kentucky Initiative, something he started in college to promote outdoor recreation and conservation around the state. “I don’t see these events as just events,” he said. “I see them as creative placemaking of social art. We’re trying to shift people’s mentalities about rivers. Get them to love them and see them as living, breathing beings to be taken care of. We’re trying to influence safety on the water by wearing your PFD. We’re also trying to promote public health, family, and community. And then we’re also trying to drive economic development.” The initiative began on social media through Instagram, Facebook, and Tumblr. As more people began to connect with the outdoors through Explore Kentucky, James started offering guided hikes and paddles to encourage more people to get outside. As someone who had been paddleboarding for years, James got involved with the local paddling community and promoting the sport. “This guy named Bob Diehl reached out to me,” he said. “We call him the SUP Master of Kentucky. He invited me to be a part of the event committee for Riverthon to help with marketing, logistics, and stuff like that. From that event, we got over 150 paddlers

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from all around the country. I thought, 'What if we do a series?'” From there, the idea took hold. Now in its third year, the Kentucky Waterman Series consists of 13 races in 4 states. A portion of the racing fees go towards various organizations like We Want to Play and Kentucky Heartwood. Some of the events, such as the Bluegrass River Run and Outdoor Recreational Festival, James puts on through the Explore Kentucky Initiative. The other races are put on by various organizers who partner with the Waterman Series. Each race uses the same class and point systems so that paddlers know what to expect. “Essentially, we’re like a union,” James said. “We’re all partnered together which helps amplify these events more. I couldn’t do all of this stuff without the communities I work with, the volunteers, and friends. They are really integral to these partnerships.” Wendy Scott, a paddleboarding instructor in West Virginia, caught the racing bug in 2017. “I was scrolling through Facebook and saw an ad for a Kentucky Waterman Series race,” she said. “The more I read about the series, what Gerry had been doing, how the points all worked together, and how you get several races throughout the year, that really sparked my interest as something I could do for a long time.” After attending several races in the Waterman Series, Scott said she and a friend were inspired to start their own race. In May, they held the Inaugural Almost Heaven Paddle Battle on Summersville Lake in West Virginia as a part of the series. “It’s been inspirational in helping other communities grow economically by bringing people to our area,” Scott said. “I told Gerry I want to be like him when I grow up, even though I’m older than him. I’m inspired by his passion for the areas he’s trying to promote and the way that it brings so many people to areas they may have never explored.” With multiple races, the series encourages paddlers to explore different rivers and parts of the

state throughout the year. “Kentucky has 120 counties,” James said. “The big thing I’ve noticed with tourism is that often it focuses on the same areas. I would be doing a disservice if I didn’t try to figure out how I can highlight more communities.” But these events are about more than just the races. Each event has a float component where paddlers can choose to discover the waterway without the competitive aspect of the race. “The idea was not just to attract paddlesports aficionados, but to also get the recreational paddlers out there,” Matt Walker said. “The idea is to get people to care about our waterways. It’s not just caring from the standpoint of hey, let’s go paddle and pick up garbage in the river. It’s our waterways are suffering. We need to look at the point source. We need to go to council meetings trying to get money for solid waste removal in our community so that it doesn’t end up in our rivers and streams.” Walker works with James, helping to plan and operate the races. As the series becomes more popular, Walker said he sees the potential for these events to include a music or food festival component as a way to include even more people. “I really think that it could illuminate so many other areas around the state that people are missing out on,” he said. “If the Kentucky River runs through Central Kentucky and dumps into the Ohio, and people overlook it as a resource, you can only imagine that they’re overlooking smaller, more intimate streams.” The hope is that the more paddlers there are on the water, the more people there are caring about the water. “We’ve got three million people here in Kentucky,” Walker said. “If we get half a million people out on the waterways and we get five percent of those people WATCH VIDEO OF ANGEL VERDE—AND A ROOKIE PADDLEBOARDER—SURFING THE WAVES OF THE SOUTH RIVER AT BLUERIDGEOUTDOORS.COM.

excited about conservation efforts for our waterways, then we’ve started making a difference. I think we get caught up in the excitement that this is a race series and we forget that the race series is actually an avenue for bigger, better things.”

more backyard adventure rivers Stonycreek River (Penn.) There is something for everyone on the Stoneycreek River, including Class I-V rapids and a whitewater park in Johnstown accessible for beginners and tubers. Cacapon River (W. Va.) Escape from the city to this scenic river with 70 to 80 percent of this river surrounded by trees. Potomac River (D.C.) The Potomac, or the “Nation’s River,” is accessible from parts of Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, and Virginia, flowing through our nation’s capital into the Chesapeake Bay. Edisto River (S.C.) From the rolling hills of the Piedmont to the marshes on the coast, the Edisto River takes paddlers through the southern part of South Carolina. Its dark color comes from the tannins that leak into the water from decayed leaves and other plant matter. Flint River (Ga.) According to American Rivers, the Flint is one of only 40 rivers in the country to flow for more than 200 miles without a dam. Neuse River Blueway (N.C.) The Neuse River connects Raleigh to New Bern and is part of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail’s paddle route. The Parklands of Floyds Fork (Ky.) Floyds Fork connects four major parks in Louisville. Within these parks, you’ll find miles of trails for hiking, biking, fishing, and paddling.

PADDLING the 2019

As summer comes into view, here are 15 paddling experiences across the region that are making waves—brought to you by the destinations, outfitters, and organizations that can’t wait to see you on the water this year!

Knoxville, Tn Knoxville, Tennessee sits at the head of the Tennessee River, surrounded by rolling hills, lakes, and quarries. This outdoor destination offers adventure within a short driving distance mixed with the amenities of a thriving city. Launch your boat from downtown at Ned McWherter Park or Bicentennial Park and paddle down the Tennessee River. Get off the river at various points along the way to enjoy the greenways, trails, and playgrounds in the heart of the city. Spend the whole day at Concord Park. Less than half an hour from the city, you’ll feel worlds away. Paddle on Fort Loudoun Lake, swim off the beaches, and enjoy local music during the Summer Concert in the Park series. You’ll ﬁnd plenty to do in Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness. Just minutes from downtown, there are more than a thousand acres on the waterfront to bike, hike, climb, and paddle. Over 50 miles of trail connect several parks in the city, perfect for those who want to get outside SPECIAL SPECIAL ADVERTISING ADVERTISING SECTION SECTION

without traveling too far. Stop at the Ijams Nature Center for a hike around the old Meads and Ross Marble Quarries, nature programs, rock climbing, and a Navitat’s tree-based adventure park. Look out for glimpses of blue heron and otters at Holston River Park as you paddle the Holston River,

guide

the longest tailwater in the Tennessee Valley. Get onto the historic French Broad River, the third oldest river in

Knoxville, tn the world, at Seven Islands State Birding Park. Explore natural trails and inspiring views of the Smoky Mountains. If you left your boat at home, head to Billy Lush Boards and Brews for a paddleboard, kayak, canoe, or hydro-bike rental. They also offer classes and nighttime paddles with views of the city skyline after the sun goes down. River Sport Outﬁtters has all the gear you may need while in Knoxville. Float down the river in one of their boats or ride a bike along the more than 85 miles of greenway in town.

Be sure to try one, or several, of the amazing 80 restaurant options located within a square mile of downtown. Those of age should check out the up and coming brewery scene for a cold one after a long day outside. Brew Tours are also available. This pet friendly town welcomes the whole family to its trails, patios, and parks. Come ﬁnd the perfect mix of fun and sun on your next paddling adventure to Knoxville, Tennessee. visitiknoxville.com/outdoors

Townsend, Tn Tucked away in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park sits Blount County, Tennessee, a quiet, but adventure-packed community that is home to some of the most cherished and unpolluted waterways in the country. Paddlers ﬂock to “The Peaceful Side of the Smokies” during the summer months to explore the tranquil waters of the Little River and Chilhowee Lake, while relaxing against the fresh, mountain air. Paddlers who are looking for either a thrilling adventure or a calm lull should make their way to the Little River. The spring-fed waterway provides rafters with a unique experience each trip due to changing waters. The 59-mile river is perfect for paddling, tubing, and ﬁshing. Flatwater paddlers looking for the quieter parts of the class I river should enter the waterway beyond the Melrose Dam at the Old Walland Highway bridge. The Blount County staple will offer 10 miles of navigable water in normal conditions. If looking for a larger area to cover and explore, paddlers should head over to Chilhowee Lake for breathtaking views of the Cherokee National Forest and Foothills Parkway. The 10-mile cool water

townsend, tn

alike experience the cool, refreshing waters on a hot day. Turn to River John’s Outﬁtters for canoe and kayak rentals, plus ﬁshing trips, for a chance to explore the Little River a different way. The seven and a half mile trip takes approximately three hours from the point of departure; however, it’s encouraged to take your time, enjoy the sites and stop to swim whenever you please. After your trip, pitch a tent and stay for the night on River John’s River Island. reservoir acts more like a river with its narrow, twisted routes. Paddlers are able to access the lake’s northern border through several boat ramps located along US 129. Once on the water, paddle over and check out the Chota Memorial site, an island that contains Cherokee nation artifacts. Entering its 25th season of providing unforgettable experiences, Smoky Mountain River Rat is your goto tubing and whitewater rafting tour company. As Blount County natives, River Rat’s owners knew how special the Little River was and opened their tubing business to let visitors and locals

STAY AWHILE

After getting off the water, explore the towns of Maryville and Townsend for restaurants, entertainment, and activities ﬁt for the whole family. With trails for all experience levels, hiking is a great alternative to explore the mountains. Some popular trails in the area include Middle Prong, Gregory Bald and Laurel Falls. When you get hungry, head over to Full Service BBQ for traditional southern grub. Located in an old gas station, the restaurant offers delicious food and gorgeous mountains views right from its patio. Looking to

fine dine? At barbourville, ky The Walnut Kitchen, each ingredient is locally sourced, providing a cultural experience guests have to taste to believe. If your summer calendar is open, consider visiting Blount County during these can’t-bemissed events. On June 21-22, Hops in the Hills will take on downtown Maryville for its fifth craft beer festival. Visitors will get to taste brews from some of the most popular breweries in the region. Also, attendees will everything from flatwater to beginner have the chance to watch the Smoky Class II rapids. The race ends at the Mountains light up with the Great Thompson R.V. Park, a five-minute Smoky Mountain Hot Air Balloon walk from downtown with covered Festival on August 17. Professional shelters and a boat ramp. Partnering balloonists from across the country with the Explore Kentucky Initiative, will light up the sky with a balloon the river challenge is part of the glow at sunset. larger Kentucky Waterman Series. To experience the best waterways You’ll have the chance to earn points in the country, while enjoying the peaceful tranquility of the Great Smoky throughout the year. Walk through town and view the Mountain National Park, plan your street murals that depict the history of summer vacation in Blount County. the region and the people. While here, smokymountains.org you can also take a historic walking tour in downtown Barbourville, Kentucky. Take advantage of the , multi-use trails at the Turner Outdoor Center. The park is open all day, Hop on the Cumberland River as it every day, and backcountry camping winds through Historic Barbourville, is free. Drive along the Boone Trace, Kentucky. Wilderness Road, and Warrior’s Visit in September for the Path, some of the oldest roads in sixth annual Cumberland River Southeastern Kentucky. Challenge, hosted by Union College Come for the race and stay for the UCanoe and Barbourville Tourism. history in Barbourville, Kentucky. Race in a variety of categories, barbourvilletourism.com including kayak, canoe, and stand up paddleboard. Paddle down 15 miles of the Cumberland River, facing

Barbourville Ky

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Head to Alleghany Outdoors, located beside the Jackson River and Scenic Trail, for all of your gear needs while in town. They provide Get lost in the mountains and waters in the Alleghany Highlands of Virginia. kayaks, rafts, tubes, and mountain bikes for a variety of adventures. Grab your kayak or paddleboard They also operate a shuttle service, and float the many lakes, rivers, and so you don’t have to worry about streams that make up the Alleghany getting back. Highlands Blueway. Explore the The Eastern National Children’s Jackson River and its many streams as Forest is the perfect place to get your it flows through the two downtowns, young one outside and exploring Covington and Clifton Forge, and the the natural world around them with George Washington and Jefferson easy hikes and towering trees. A trip National Forest. Follow the river on to the Alleghany Highlands wouldn’t foot or bike as the Jackson River be complete without a visit to Scenic Trail runs for 14 miles along its Falling Spring Falls. View the 80-foot banks. Paddle the Cowpasture River, waterfall from the overlook on Route with a few smaller rapids, before 220. While you’re in your car, head it turns into the headwaters of the over to Humpback Bridge. Picnic James River. beside the bridge, listed on the National alleghany highlands, va Register of Historic Places, as you listen to the sound of the stream flowing past. Spend the night in the area known for its deep railroad history. Stop into the Alleghany Arts and Crafts Center or the Clifton Forge School of the Arts to enjoy a number of classes or unique exhibits. See Visit Douthat a show at Lake at one of the newly Virginia’s oldest restored parks, Douthat Historic State Park. Swim, Masonic boat, or fish on Theater. the 50-acre lake. Keep an Or explore more eye out than 40 miles for several of top-notch events in biking and hiking the area, trails, offering including breathtaking views the Jackson of the mountains. River At the other end Scenic Trail of the Alleghany Marathon, Highlands, you’ll Gran Fondo find even more Alleghany, and Lake Moomaw Open paddling opportunities at Lake Water Swim. Moomaw. Located at the base of the All of this, and more, is what Gathright Dam, the 2,530- acre manmakes this part of Virginia Uniquely made lake is perfect for boating all Alleghany. year. Camp in the national forest and visitalleghanyhighlands.com sleep among the stars.

Alleghany Highlands, Va

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chesapeake, va

Chesapeake, Va Voted a Top Adventure Town in 2018 for its extensive waterways and trail systems, discover why Chesapeake, Virginia is a water lover’s dream. Whether your boat needs a paddle, sail, or motor to move, Chesapeake has something for you. The Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge offers a variety of paddling opportunities, from the Dismal Swamp Canal to the picturesque Lake Drummond. Get on the water with Kevin Fonda of Adventure Kayak Tours to explore the scenery and history of the area. Travel by land with the 8.5-mile paved trail that runs along the canal, perfect for walking, biking, and horseback riding by the water. Look out for Eagles, Osprey, Acadian Flycatchers, and more while you’re there. Play all day at Northwest River Park and Campground. Rent a canoe and paddle Lake Lesa or hike through the extensive trail system. Anglers of all experience levels can test their skills on the lake, stocked with catﬁsh, trout, and bass. Extend your trip with a stay at one of the campsites or cabins on site. Watercraft of all kinds are welcome on the Intracoastal Waterway. Access city shops and dining options right from the water. Repair and store your vessel at Atlantic Yacht Basin, dock your boat and enjoy a meal at Top Rack Marina, or stop for fuel and repairs at Centerville Waterway Marina. While you’re by the waterway, enjoy a picnic lunch or walk your dog

at Battlefield Park. This tribute to the Battle of Great Bridge is the perfect place to soak up the sun and watch the boats sail past. Walk, run, or bike across the twomile South Norfolk Jordan Bridge. At 169 feet, it is taller than the Brooklyn Bridge and offers sweeping views of the area. Follow the Elizabeth River as it passes beneath the bridge and flows out to the Atlantic Ocean. The park at the base of the bridge offers easy access to the river and a free fishing pier for all. Take the whole family to the Chesapeake City Park for summer festivals, picnics, and more or head to the Destination Playground at Deep Creek Park, designed for children of all abilities and ADA-accessible. Only 20 minutes to the Virginia Beach Boardwalk and Norfolk downtown, Chesapeake has countless affordable lodging accommodations for your Coastal Virginia vacation. See for yourself what makes Chesapeake, Virginia one of the Top Adventure Towns. VisitChesapeake.com

Front Royal Outdoors, Va Float the South Fork of the

Shenandoah River with Front Royal Outdoors. There is a trip for everyone with their fleet of canoes, kayaks, rafts, paddleboards, and tubes. With shuttle service included, you can sit back and let these experts handle all the details. Choose from a variety of trips, from a one-hour float to a three-day camping trip. If you want to bring your own boat, Front Royal will help shuttle your boat between your put in and take out spot. Keep a lookout for special events and programs offered throughout the year. Paddle the river as the sun sets with a guided trip as the sky puts on a show. Combine your paddle rental with one of several lodging options for a discount on your booking and views of the mountains. Before you get on the river, stop by the outfitter store for a fully-stocked selection of supplies. Grab a dry bag and sunscreen before heading outside. Fill up on pizza, hot dogs, and ice cream from King’s Eddy Grill. Call ahead for a packed lunch that will stay dry on the river. Front Royal Outdoors has all you need to make your trip to Shenandoah the perfect getaway. frontroyalcanoe.com

front royal outdoors, va

Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries Connect with dozens of scenic rivers and lakes through the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. Paddle among the marshes and cypress trees of the Lower Chickahominy River. Get on the water at Chickahominy Riverfront Park with year-round access for large and small watercrafts. Bring your own boat or rent a canoe or kayak at the park. Fish for largemouth bass, yellow perch, and black crappie from the pier or water. Spend the night at one of several campsites for easy access to the water. The park is in close proximity to the Chickahominy Wildlife Management Area, and is a short ten-minute ride from the restaurants, breweries, and shopping located in and around downtown Williamsburg. Extend your visit with a trip to Busch Gardens. The mountains are the perfect backdrop for Philpott Lake. Explore 100 miles of pristine shoreline from one of nine boat ramps on the water. The lake is one of Virginia’s premier destinations for catching walleye and bass. Surround by ten recreation areas and a state park, you will ﬁnd hundreds of campsites, miles of hiking trails, and six beaches to explore.

Paddle the New River for 160 miles as it flows northward through a wide array of landscapes and ecosystems. Those looking for a thrill can find some major Class II and III rapids along the way while slower stretches allow you to take in the scenery. A number of experienced guides and outfitters operate along the river. Play all day on Laurel Lake and Russell Fork River at Breaks Interstate Park. Take advantage of the pedal boats, hydro bikes, and canoes available for rent. This park, which sits on the Virginia and Kentucky border, has 25 miles of hiking trails and 12 miles of mountain biking virginia department of game and inland fisheries trails. Treasure hunt for over 60 geocaches hidden in the area or go on D.C. The two boat launches are a guided horseback ride on the trails. perfect for accessing the river Cool off at the waterpark with fun for or Aquia Creek with your kayak, the whole family on the waterslides, canoe, or paddleboard. Rent an ADA lazy river, and in-pool basketball. accessible kayak from the visitor Discover the living creatures of center. Walk the Long Pond Trail as it the commonwealth with the Virginia follows the creek. Keep coming back Bird and Wildlife Trail. The interactive as this park continues to grow and map features 65 trails where you can new trails are added. view birds, mammals, amphibians, At Shenandoah River State Park, reptiles, fish, and hundreds of paddle along the South Fork of the invertebrate species. You can travel river with views of Massanutten from the beaches and swamps of the Mountain and Shenandoah National coast to the forests and rivers of the Park. Do a short trip down the 5.2 mountains in search of wildlife. miles of river within the park or dgif.virginia.gov extend your ride as the river continues flowing northeast toward Maryland and West Virginia. Explore 24 miles of hiking and biking trails or try out the new zipline with Virginia Canopy Find the perfect paddling spot in one Tour. Spend the night at one of the of Virginia’s 38 state parks. riverfront campsites after a long day Make your first stop at Widewater in the mountains. State Park in Stafford County. Get on Buggs Island Lake, Virginia’s newest park is located on Virginia’s largest freshwater lake, at the bank of the Potomac River and Occoneechee State Park. Three boat is only an hour south of Washington, ramps offer easy access to the water

Virginia State Parks

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From the Chesapeake Bay to the Blue Ridge Mountains, there is so much more to explore when you visit a Virginia State Park. virginiastateparks.gov

Virginia’s Blue Ridge

virginia state parks

for paddle and motor boats alike. Fuel up and dock at the marina or rent a boat from Clarksville Marine Rentals at the main ramp. Just down the road, Staunton River State Park is the perfect place for paddling and star gazing. Between the Staunton and Dan Rivers and the lake, there are miles of water to enjoy. Slide down the 70-foot waterslide at the Olympic sized pool or rent one of the park’s Newtonian-reflector telescopes for the night. Cool off at Hungry Mother State Park in Western Virginia. Bring your own boat or rent one from the park. Swim beneath the shadows of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the 108-acre Hungry Mother Lake or fish for bass, catfish, and musky. Set up camp at James River State Park for mountain views and quiet forests. Rent a canoe, kayak, or tube from Outdoor Adventures Canoe Livery and take advantage of the shuttle service to paddle a full eight miles. View the James River Batteau Festival from the park. SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Be a #Trailsetter and get on the water in the Roanoke Valley in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains! The region is home to numerous rivers, lakes, and more than 150 miles of blueways that wind through the heart of the mountains and offer beautiful natural scenes. Kayaking, canoeing, fishing, tubing, paddleboarding, boating, swimming...they have it all in Virginia’s Blue Ridge! Start with the Roanoke River Blueway, perfect for paddling, fishing, and tubing as you float through towns and backcountry. Sixteen public access points along 45 miles of river allow you to customize your paddling experience. The blueway connects visitors to several parks along the way, including the Blue Ridge Parkway and Smith Mountain Lake. Just off the river and parkway, Explore Park is a great spot for a whole day of activities. Launch your boat into the gorge from a riverfront campsite, enjoy 14 miles of mountain biking trails, or soar through the forest on swings, cargo nets, and ziplines with Treetop Quest, which is expected to open later this year. Paddlers will love the sights and sounds of the Upper James River Water Trail, particularly the 59-mile stretch designated as a Virginia Scenic River. It’s a great spot to get on the water with the entire family, and some segments include Class I & Class II rapids, as well as scenic valleys and rolling farmland.

virginia’s blue ridge Hop on the water with Twin River Outfitters, the oldest outfitter on the Upper James River. They specialize in multiday paddling trips with camping, including new riverfront glamping sites, and relaxing floats with the largest fleet of tubes in the area. For a relaxing lake experience, make your way to Franklin County, which is home to Smith Mountain Lake and Philpott Lake. Both locations provide outstanding opportunities for fishing, boating, swimming, camping, and exceptional views. Franklin County also offers unique floating and paddling on the Blackwater and Pigg River Blueways. Looking for more spots to cast your line? The George Washington & Jefferson National Forest features various options for classic creek fishing, including Roaring Run,

North Creek, and Middle Creek in Botetourt County. Local outfitters offering gear rentals and guided trips: James River: Twin River Outfitters, Dead Drift Outfitters Roanoke River: Roanoke Mountain Adventures Smith Mountain Lake: Bridgewater

Marina, Crazy Horse Marina, Gills Creek Marina

MORE ADVENTURES

Don’t forget to check out the trails to see what makes Virginia’s Blue Ridge an IMBA Silver-Level Ride Center and America’s East Coast Mountain Biking Capital. At 12,700 acres, Carvins Cove Natural Reserve is the second largest municipal park in the country and a must see for mountain biking enthusiasts. Ride almost 60 miles of trails through forests and past the reservoir. Close to downtown, Mill Mountain Park features more than 10 miles of trails and picnic areas. Take advantage of more than 600 miles of hiking trails in the area, including the Appalachian Trail. View the valley from the top of Read Mountain, McAfee Knob, or iconic Roanoke Star and Overlook. When you are ﬁnished, cool off at Splash Valley Water Park with 34-foot slides and a current river. Toast to your adventures by visiting a few stops along Virginia’s Blue Ridge Cheers Trail, the craft beverage trail featuring local breweries, wineries, and distilleries in the region. Experience the local craft ﬂavors of Virginia’s Blue Ridge and download the special Cheers Trail Passport, providing you the ability to check in at each location for drink specials and prizes. With so much to do, you will want to keep coming back to Virginia’s Blue Ridge to experience it all. BeATrailsetter.com

Calvert County, MD With the Chesapeake Bay to the east and Patuxent River to the west, Calvert County in Southern Maryland has 143 miles of shoreline to explore. Access the Chesapeake Bay via several public beaches in the area. Launch from the marina at Fishing Creek, a quiet waterway surrounded by wildlife and history. Stop by Chesapeake Beach Boat Rentals for a canoe, kayak, or standup paddleboard. Spend some time at North Beach after getting off the

water, exploring the boardwalk’s ice cream parlors and little shops. Visit the North Beach Welcome Center for all the equipment you’ll need on the water. Paddle the Patuxent River as the water ﬂows under the towering Thomas Johnson Bridge. If you left your boat at home, the Patuxent Adventure Center in Solomons has you covered. Bunky’s Charter Boats is a one-stop shop for anything waterrelated in Calvert County, including boat rentals, kayaks, tackle, and bait. If you want to catch a glimpse of wildlife, launch from Jefferson Patterson Park. Hallowing Point Park, or Flag Ponds Nature Park. Keep your eyes open for bald eagles, osprey, red wing black birds, and more. Surround by water, Calvert County is a paddler’s paradise. choosecalvert.com

Frederick County, MD Get away to Frederick County, Maryland where you will find all the natural wonders the region has to offer with all the amenities of a city. Make your way down the Monocacy River, the perfect waterway for paddlers just starting out or looking for a relaxing float. Take in the grandeur of the Catoctin Mountains as you make your way past forests and farmlands. With 10 public boat launches in the county, tailor the length of your trip to fit your day. Hop on the Potomac River at the southern border of the county, an important river to maintaining the health of the Chesapeake Bay. This river offers everything from a mellow ride on a tube to Class III whitewater rapids.

calvery county, md

frederick, md Head out of the city to Cunningham Falls State Park in the Catoctin Mountains and visit Hunting Creek Lake. During the summer, you can rents boats at the lake to explore the 43 acres surrounded by forests. Hike miles of trail, view the 78-foot cascading waterfall, the tallest in Maryland, and choose from over 100 campsites to extend your visit to the park. At Greenbrier State Park, boaters can access the man-made freshwater lake to paddle in the Appalachian Mountains. Hike through 11 miles of trails through a variety of habitats, including the Appalachian Trail as it passes through the park. Stop by The Trailhouse in Downtown Frederick for all the gear you will need, from

tents and backpacks to climbing gear and paddling maps. While you are downtown, stop for a meal before making your way out onto the water. If you are looking for a guided trip, River & Trail Outﬁtters have an adventure for you. Whitewater raft on the Shenandoah River, tube or paddle down the Potomac River, cycle along the C&O Canal, or zipline high above the trees. Combine your paddle with drinks on one of their boat and brew tours.

STAY AWHILE

Hike, bike, or horseback ride through the mountainous Gambrill State Park. Three overlooks allow you to view the valleys below and the mountains in the distance. Fish for bass, bluegill, and catﬁsh in the small pond, no license required. Visit the Carroll Creek Park from June through October to see the Color on the Creek water garden. Volunteers manage the garden, ﬁlled with more than 1,200 blooming lilies, lotus, and bog plants on the SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Raystown Lake Region, PA

frederick, md water. View the butterfly waystations at Kemptown and Utica Parks for a glimpse of the monarch butterfly as it makes its way south for the winter. Get up close with bison, sheep, and more on a safari excursion through the Catoctin Wildlife Preserve and Zoo or bottle feed a calf at South Mountain Creamery before trying some of their delicious ice cream made with ingredients from the farm. Learn from important Civil War sites, including the National Museum of Civil War Medicine and Monocacy National Battlefield or ride into Downtown Frederick on the scenic Historic National Road, the first federally funded interstate highway.

Enjoy a four-course meal in a vintage 1920s passenger car as the Walkersville Southern Railroad runs through the Maryland countryside. With over 200 boutique shops and unique restaurants in Downtown Frederick and 20 tasting rooms in the county, there is plenty to do at the end of the day. Spend the night at one of several major hotel brands, like Hilton and Marriott, in addition to other vacation rentals and bed and breakfasts right downtown or out in the country. In Frederick County, you will ﬁnd all the outdoor adventure you are looking for with a backdrop that can’t be beat. visitfrederick.org

Whether you’re paddling the lake, walking through the forest, or simply breathing in the fresh air, make the most out of your trip during any season of the year to the Raystown Lake Region of Pennsylvania. Raystown Lake is the largest lake entirely within Pennsylvania. With 118-miles of mostly undeveloped and wild shoreline, this paddling destination offers solitude from the city and scenic views. Bring your own boat or rent one from Rothrock Outfitters. You’ll find everything you need at Raystown, from campgrounds and dining to water skiing and evening programs. Stay on the lake with a houseboat from Seven Points Marina. Most rentals come fully equipped with a hot tub and slide. Dock at their marina or rent one of their pontoon boats for the day from this family-owned establishment. Catch a Proud Mary Showboat cruise at the Lake Raystown Resort. This resort has something for everyone, including the fishing guide services from Angry Musky Outfitters and a waterpark. Drift in an inner tube or paddle down the Juniata River. Two new public launch areas provide access to a 3.5-mile float through Jack’s Narrows, the deepest gorge in Pennsylvania. Paddlers of all experience levels will be drawn to the beauty of this river. Explore the gorge on foot with the Thousand Steps section of the Standing Stone Trail up Jack’s Mountain. More than 1,200 stones were used to construct the staircase to the top of the

raystown lake region, pa SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

mountain. The entire Standing Stone Trail runs 80+ miles across ridgetops, connecting the Mid State Trail with the Tuscarora Trail. When you’re done on the water, ride the Allegrippis Trails for 36 miles of some of the best single-track mountain bike trails in the country or check out the Raystown Mountain Bike Skills Park. For a shorter stroll, head to the Greenside Pathway. This 2.5-mile loop was made from 30,000 recycled tires; connecting the Raystown Lake Visitor Center, campgrounds, beach, marina, and picnic shelters. There are hundreds of miles to explore by boat, bike, or foot, including Greenwood Furnace and Whipple Dam State Parks. Head below the surface into Lincoln Caverns and Whisper Rocks. First discovered in 1930 and 1941, these caves provide views of towering ﬂowstones, delicate stalactites, and sparkling crystals. The whole family will remember the wonders seen underground. With more than 135,000 acres of public land to explore in Huntingdon County, you’ll ﬁnd plenty of space and things to do in the Raystown Lake Region of Pennsylvania throughout the year. raystown.org

Grant County, Wv Surrounded by soaring mountains and refreshing waters, Grant County, West Virginia is a summer paradise. As the gateway community to the Monongahela National Forest and Dolly Sods Wilderness, you are sure

to find an adventure right for you. Paddle the South Branch of the Potomac River as it flows from the Monongahela Nation Forest through the town of Petersburg. With a few Class I and II rapids, it is a great river for beginners and paddlers looking for a smoother ride. Don’t miss the Smoke Hole Canyon float trip featuring massive rock formations and soaring eagles. Extend the trip at Big Bend Campground with swimming, hiking, and camping for the whole family. Spend a lazy day on the North Fork as you float down in a tube or fish for bass and trout. Mount Storm Lake, a 1,200-acre reservoir, is perfect for boating all year long. Jet ski, wind surf, or fish in this warm water lake. Launch your boat from the public ramp on South Mill Creek Lake and enjoy a picnic beside the water when you are done boating or fishing. No matter how you choose to play, you will find adventure and beauty in scenic Grant County. visitgrantcounty.com

Tucker County, Wv There are endless opportunities to get outside in Tucker County, West Virginia.

grant county, wv

tucker county, wv

With several public boat launches along the banks, the Cheat River Water Trail is perfect for paddlers, tubers, and anglers alike. Choose from a variety of trips, from mild flatwater floats to adrenaline pumping whitewater rides. Stop by Blackwater Outdoor Adventures in St. George for the only whitewater outfitter

in the county. With over 35 years of experience, they know the best spots on this river. The outfitter also provides other float trips on the Cheat and camping by the river. Start upstream at one of the headwaters for the Cheat. The Black Fork is a four mile stretch of flatwater, perfect for young and beginning paddlers. Depending on water levels, the Dry Fork River offers a variety of rides. With sweeping landscapes and wildlife aplenty, don’t miss this scenic river. Hop on the Blackwater River as it meanders through the Canaan Valley. The river starts as wetlands in the upper section before the flow picks up and turns into moving water with a few rapids. Only expert, world class paddlers should attempt the Blackwater Canyon. An ADAaccessible boat launch in the Canaan Valley Wildlife Refuge offers the perfect place to get on upper sections of the river. Spend all day exploring Blackwater Falls State Park. The iconic falls are a must see while you

are there. At 62 feet, the waterfall is easily accessible from the boardwalk and viewing platform. Hike or bike more than 20 miles throughout the park, offering incredible views of West Virginia’s most visited park. Head down to Pendleton Lake to rent kayaks and paddleboards or ﬁsh for trout. End the day with a round of disc golf and spend the night at one of the many camp sites in the park. With public lands making up more than half of the county, extend your stay in West Virginia. Choose your adventure at Canaan Valley Resort State Park. Relax by the pool, take in the views from the chairlift, or hike on the 18 miles of trails. The Monongahela National Forest provides over 900,000 acres of wilderness to hike, bike, ﬁsh, and explore, including the highest plateau east of the Mississippi in the Dolly Sods Wilderness and Scenic Area. At the end of the day, head into town for food, drinks, art, shops, and live music. Tucker County is the perfect place to spend all day outside. canaanvalley.org SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Adventures on the gorge, Wv

pristine waters of Summersville Lake or an excursion below the New River Gorge Bridge. If you’re ready to step up the excitement, the region is also home to stellar SUP surﬁng spots. If you’re overwhelmed by the number of outdoor adventures waiting for you in the New River Gorge, rest assured you don’t have to go it alone. Adventures on the Gorge is there for everything from planning what activities best suit your group to offering you a cold beer and dinner after a big day of adventures. Plus, with onsite lodging, camping, stores, restaurants, bars, and a coffee shop, you won’t have to worry about the logistics—just show up ready for the adventure of a lifetime. newrivergorgegetaway.com

From lush mountain trails and tranquil lakes to majestic sandstone cliffs and world-class whitewater, the New River Gorge is a nature-made outdoor adventure mecca. If you’re looking for an adrenaline rush combined with stunning scenery and a dose of local history, don’t miss your chance to raft through the heart of the New River Gorge. Packed with Class III-IV rapids and dotted with the ruins of historic mining towns, the Lower New River ends with unparalleled views of the iconic New River Gorge Bridge. Got kids? Consider rafting the Upper New. It’s just as scenic but the rapids are more family-friendly. As epic as it is to raft through the For more great stories on Paddling New River Gorge, the rock walls that Experiences in the Blue Ridge, line the river are just as renown. With visit blueridgeoutdoors.com climbing routes ranging from perfect-for-ﬁrst-timers to experts-only, you can scale adventures on the gorge, wv the rocks of the New River Gorge regardless of your experience level. As if world-class rafting and rock climbing weren’t enough, the area is also home to a network of top-notch mountain biking trails. Challenge yourself on miles of single-track routes through the lush forest or take a scenic ride on the rail trails. If you want to see more and work less, you even can explore the gorge on an electric-assisted mountain bike. Boasting hundreds of miles of scenic trails, the New River Gorge is a haven for hikers and trail runners. Take one of the many rim-side paths that lead to stunning overlooks or descend into historic mining towns set in the depths of the gorge. If you choose the latter, be prepared for the steep hike back to the rim. When it comes to stand-up paddleboarding, choose between a tranquil day paddling through the SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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HOMETOWN HEROES LOCALS REVEAL THEIR FAVORITE SPOTS FOR INTOWN ADVENTURE

C AT H Y A N D E R S O N S TA N D S AT O P T H E CHIMNEYS IN THE LINVILLE GORGE. / PHOTO BY KENNEDY LEE

BY ELLEN KANZINGER

t’s five o’clock on a Wednesday afternoon. You want to get outside after a long day of work or classes, but you don’t have the time to drive two hours to your favorite hike or crag. Athletes and adventurers from across the MidAtlantic and Southeast show us their favorite spots in their hometowns and how they get outside on a regular basis.

Aimee Trepanier Greenville, S.C.

For trail runner Aimee Trepanier, the more time she can spend outside during the day, the better. “When I realized I could transition from road running to trail running, incorporating longer periods outside, that’s what hooked me,” she said. “If I’m not getting outside on a daily basis, something is seriously wrong in my life.” The easiest way she finds to get outside is her commute to work every day. “Most of my days, I’m either going to run or bike to work on the Swamp Rabbit Trail, which is just gold for me and a lot of people that live in Greenville,” Trepanier said. “The trail pretty much connects the main sections of Greenville. I live more on the Travelers Rest end, but I work in downtown.” The Swamp Rabbit Trail is paved, which works well for commuting. “If I need to ride my bike on the main roads, I’m pretty comfortable with that,” Trepanier said. “But a lot of people aren’t, and it’s not super safe. So, the trail gets you off of the main roads to something that’s for pedestrians and bikers only. It’s super safe and beautiful. You go through the city, neighborhoods, and parts that truly are like a swamp. Then it connects you into downtown Falls Park area and you can add extra miles touring 42

BLUE RIDGE OUTDOORS | JUNE 2019

around there.” But when Trepanier wants to get on some real trails in the city, she heads to Paris Mountain State Park. “That’s literally in the heart of Greenville,” she said. “You can get 15 to 20 miles out there easy. It offers you everything, from technical terrain to hard climbs and nice flowy pieces. You really get a good sense of all things trail.” On the weekend, Trepanier will drive about half an hour to Jones Gap State Park or Table Rock State Park for more trails and miles. “Those trails are not only well maintained and a lot of fun, but they have some gorgeous views of waterfalls that are hard to beat,” she said. “They’re easy to get to. You don’t have to plan a whole day around your activity and travel.” When she does travel farther out to Pisgah National Forest or Great Smoky Mountains National Park for longer runs, Trepanier makes sure to have all her gear ready to keep herself motivated.

A I M E E T R E PA N I E R I N T H E R E D R O C K C O N S E R VA T I O N A R E A .

“If I’m going to be driving, I live out of my car,” she said. “I have a bucket of all my trail gear, extra clothes, water bottles. It’s a bit of an investment up front to pay for it. But I found that if I can keep it in my car, keep it on me, then there’s no real excuse to not get out.”

Angelo Wash Richmond, Va.

Going into his fourth-year racing downhill, mountain biker Angelo Wash is kicking it up a notch. “I figured this year I would move up to Cat One for the challenge and to push myself more,” he said. “I was playing baseball at a competitive level and I’m just competitive, so I got to keep that going. I’m looking forward to the challenge. It’s pretty much that last step before you take the leap to go pro.” Originally from Richmond, there are plenty of spots for Wash to get on his bike around the city. “My favorite place to go is the first place I was introduced to biking, Powhite Park,” he said. “I can literally walk from my job to this place. That’s my favorite little spot to go to when I just want to get away and ride. I can leave work, get right over there, and do an hour of riding.” Just down the road, the James River Park System also offers a place to get away right on the water. “You can get 30 miles in the city and still see the skyline,” Wash said. “That’s how sweet that is. I have a few friends, especially once it gets hot, they will do a lap around the river and then the next thing I know, those guys are swimming in the river. There’s just a lot to do when you go down to the river. When you’re finished riding, you don’t have to pack up and head home.” Both of these parks are conveniently located in

climbs on them. Afterwards, there’s a lake that we can go hang out in.” During the week, Dickerson will head to one of several Earth Treks climbing gyms in the area. One day on the weekend she also works as a climbing instructor at Earth Treks Hamden. For those interested in getting into climbing, Dickerson remembers the feeling of starting out. “Don’t be intimidated,” she said. “I remember my first day walking into Earth Treks Rockville and everyone looked like they knew what they were doing. I felt like I didn’t belong, like I was this newbie who didn’t belong. If you’re getting into climbing, just embrace it and have fun.” Now as a leader for Brown Girls Climb, Dickerson is helping more people experience the sport. “I love bringing people out climbing,” Dickerson said. “Don’t think that you’re going to be a burden to anyone because you’re not as experienced. Because we all started off not being experienced. I am super appreciative of the people who took me outside and so I always want to be that resource for someone else. We all belong in the climbing space. We all belong in the outdoor space.”

GABRIELLE DICKERSON CLIMBS IN THE CASEY JONES AREA OF THE NEW RIVER GORGE. / PHOTO BY STEPHEN SMITHBURGER

town and offer the kind of trails Wash is looking for. “I like natural features,” he said. “Don’t get me wrong, I love a flow trail. Everybody loves a flow trail. Powhite is still very much raw. It still has the roots and ruts and rocks. The stuff around the river has the same thing but you get a little bit more elevation and distance.” Closer to his new home in Petersburg, Va., Wash discovered a quieter place to ride on the trails at Petersburg National Battlefield. “It’s more double track than single track but you can get a decent 10 miles in there, he said. “It’s a pretty cool site because you’re actually on the battlefield. You’re seeing big craters. They still have the canons out. You can ride along the Appomattox River. It’s kind of similar to features at the James River System but a lot of people don’t know about it because it’s Petersburg and it’s still coming up.” When the warm weather rolls around, Wash heads to the Snowshoe Bike Park in West Virginia for his more intense training for downhill events. “I call it my backyard and home away from home because once the summer starts, I’m always there,” Wash said. “Last year, I was at Snowshoe for 32 days and I think we only get 90 days of summer.”

Gabrielle Dickerson DMV (D.C., Maryland, Virginia)

While the museums and history of downtown D.C. receive a lot of attention, those who live and play in the DMV area know there is plenty to do outside. Gabrielle Dickerson, a climber living and working in the Southern Maryland area, has plenty of options when it comes to getting outside. “My favorite place, especially for getting my friends out that haven’t climbed outside, is Great

T H E H A R G R O V E FA M I LY O N T H E C H AT TA H O O C H E E R I V E R . / P H O T O B Y MELISSA HARGROVE

The Hargrove Family Columbus, Ga. A N G E L O WA S H I S O N E OF RICHMOND'S TOP M O U N TA I N B I K E R S .

Falls Park,” she said. “That’s a really great top roping place and it’s really great to take people who haven’t been outside as often. For bouldering, the first place I ever climbed outside was Northwest Branch Stream Valley Park in Silver Spring. People have their opinions about it, but it's got a special place in my heart because that was the first place I ever went bouldering. The first boulder is a twoto three-minute walk from the parking lot. There’s a good amount of warm up climbs if you want an endurance workout and harder climbs if you want to project stuff.” “Patapsco State Park is great to go hang out in and hike after work because I am in an office behind a computer all day,” she said. “So sometimes I just have to get outside. My coworkers and I, after work, will just go out hiking for a little bit and grab a beer afterwards.” If she wants a full day of climbing, Dickerson will head towards Frederick, Md. for Catoctin Mountain Park or Cunningham Falls State Park. “I really love that area because not only is it a climbing place, it’s a great hiking place,” Dickerson said. “So, if you bring friends who aren’t super psyched about climbing, they can hike. Cunningham Falls, you hike up to a waterfall and there are four or five different boulders that have quite a few

The Hargroves, a family of six whitewater kayakers, got their start in the sport because of their location. Matt Hargrove had just started paddling when the dam was breached on the Chattahoochee River in Columbus, Ga. The community came together to build an urban whitewater center right in downtown. Once the park was finished, it became something for the whole family to do together. “We’re concentrating on doing things as a family and having the Chattahoochee Whitewater Park in our town has been instrumental in allowing us to grow closer as a family and doing things outside,” Melissa Hargrove said. “It’s five miles from our house. It’s just beautiful training ground.” The eldest Hargrove, Mason, 15, is currently ranked number one in the nation for his age group and will be representing the United States at the World Championships in July. Makinley Kate, 11, and Mary Claire, 9, are getting more comfortable on the water and starting to compete. Mathis, the youngest at 5, just got his first kayak for Christmas to paddle around on flatwater, although he will go down the rapids in dad’s lap. “We have amazing whitewater,” Hargrove said. “People sometimes don’t understand what we have in Columbus, Ga. There’s not as many families and kids out there as we want to see. We’re hoping to make it not just focused on people doing amazing tricks in the waves, but it can be fun family time. Our warmer water and multiple features have something for everyone. From flat water to class IV rapids our whole family, of different ages and athletic abilities, enjoys the connection and refreshment the river brings.” This year, the Hargroves are partnering with Whitewater Express and Team River Runner to host Throwdown Thursdays on the river. JUNE 2019 | BLUERIDGEOUTDOORS.COM

JOHN HARDIN WITH H I S F A M I L Y. / P H O T O COURTESY OF HARDIN

“Every Thursday, our family will have kayaks for people to try out and we’ll be down there to offer instruction,” Hargrove said. “Just to get more families and individuals on the water, learning our sport and encouraging others that with a little drive and sense of adventure, any size family, including children of any age, can enjoy jumping into a kayak or on a SUP board.” When the family is not on the river together, they’re enjoying the Chattahoochee RiverWalk and downtown Columbus. “We go ride bikes, find picnic spots,” Hargrove said. “There’s a splash pad in the summer. There’s rafting and ziplining as well right there. During the heat of the summer when we’re not on the water, being inside at the climbing gym is a lot of fun. There’s so much to do right there.” Hargrove said these moments, where the family is able to get outside together, bring her so much joy. “Get out there and do it with them,” she said. “When we go to baseball practice, soccer, or dance, we’re sitting on the sidelines watching them. And it’s fun, but being out there doing it with them, whether it’s in a kayak or riding a bike, creates memories that they’re going to carry on to their children.”

John Hardin Nashville, Tenn.

When ultra-athlete John Hardin looked around Nashville, he didn’t see any extreme athlete events. He teamed up with his adventure partner, Cody Goodwin, to start HardWin Adventures and create those events. “The whole goal was to create a trail running community in Nashville,” Hardin said. “Chattanooga and Knoxville had something that we thought was imperative that we start something in our area.” Now in their seventh year, they put on seven running events and a paddling event around the area. “At the beginning, it was very stressful and hard because we didn’t have a community,” Hardin said. “Now we have this huge volunteer army that comes out and helps. All these trail runners have really taken on to it.” Hardin, who grew up exploring the big parks in the area, is now passing on his sense of adventure to his son. On Mondays, the father and son go rock climbing. 44

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“It’s basically getting on things that he feels comfortable with,” Hardin said. “He only does four routes but he’s only four years old. It’s small things to set his foundation.” Climb Nashville has two locations in the city, offering a variety of routes for beginning and experienced climbers. They go swimming on Tuesdays and run the track together at the local YMCA on Wednesdays. Other days, Hardin spends his time exploring the area on his own and with friends. “I say this with a bit of caution, but we have a huge game reserve next to us called the Cheatham County Game Reserve,” he said. “It’s about 22,000 acres and it has tons of trails on it. Nobody knows about it. It’s this huge forest right on the outside of Nashville. You have to be careful. If people are hunting, you shouldn’t be out there. But you can go when people are not hunting.” When he has more time, Hardin will head towards Northern Tennessee to explore the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area. “The Big South Fork, I think, is the next climbing mecca of the South,” he said. “The walls out there are phenomenal and there’s so many of them. People just don’t know about it. The routes are hard to get to because there’s no trail system set up in some of the areas.”

Other Urban Adventures to Explore Catawba River (Charlotte, N.C.) Cool off on the Catawba River or stop by the U.S. Whitewater Center for rock climbing, ropes courses, mountain biking, and whitewater rafting. The Philly Pumptrack (Philadelphia, Penn.) This bike park is free and open to the community in downtown Philadelphia. They even have a stock of bikes and helmets for visitors to use without charge. Legacy Trail (Lexington, Ky.) For 12 miles, the Legacy Trail connects downtown Lexington with neighborhoods, parks, and the Kentucky Horse Park. Saluda and Broad Rivers (Columbia, S.C.) In the heart of South Carolina’s capitol, the Saluda and Broad Rivers meet to form the Congaree River. Whether you’re looking for churning rapids or a peaceful float, you’ll find one of Columbia’s rivers fits your speed. PATH Parkway (Atlanta, Ga.) The PATH Parkway may only be 1.5 miles, but it connects several important locations in downtown Atlanta, including the Centennial Olympic Park, headquarters for the Coca-Cola Company, and Georgia Aquarium.

Kanawha River (Charleston, W.Va.) The Kanawha River winds through Charleston, connecting downtown, green spaces, and the West Virginia State Capitol. For a scenic float through mountains and forests, check out one of the Kanawha’s tributaries, the Coal River Walhonde Water Trail. French Broad River Greenway (Asheville, N.C.) Walk, run, or bike beside the historic French Broad River, flowing through the heart of Asheville. Or get in the water on a kayak, standup paddleboard, or tube for a summer float. Frick Park (Pittsburgh, Penn.) There are plenty of places to explore in this extensive 644-acre park. Follow the trail along Nine Mile Run to where it empties into the Monongahela River or search for one of the more than 100 species of birds that have been documented in the park. Kemper Park (Charlottesville, Va.) There are miles of trails around Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello with stunning views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, an arboretum showcasing native species, and an outdoor amphitheater.

Find Your People For North Carolina photographer Cathy Anderson, her love for the art started at a young age. There are photos of her as a young girl, developing negatives in the dark room with her dad. Most of Anderson’s early work focused on portraits, but she started moving into landscape photography when she discovered the Linville Gorge was right in her backyard. “Sometimes, my life as a portrait photographer will get so busy that I’ll just take my camera and get lost on top of a mountain,” she said. “My passion is the Linville Gorge. I would be happy hiking there for the rest of my life because there’s something amazingly beautiful about it and there’s something different around every corner.” From there, Anderson started meeting more people in the adventure community who introduced her to a whole new world. “I found a huge passion to start photographing and highlighting the athletes who exist within the world that I love so much,” she said. “Adventure photography is what helped me come in to who I am today.” The highliners, long-distance hikers, and explorers, the people Anderson now calls her adventure family, have helped her find her niche in the photography world. “They’re doing things you never thought you could do,” she said. “They seem almost like rock stars, which they are to me. When you think of a rock star, you think they’re unapproachable. If you just take that inhibition away and you go say hello, they are some of the most loving and supportive people that you have ever met. They’re there to share a central love for something, whether it be highlining, photography, hiking, whatever. All of these people are not only willing to help you, but collectively respect the environment. It just took one step for me to be encircled by a world and community of people who I never thought would want to commune with me. Just come out one day to a highlining meeting. You’ll understand.”

summertime in a bottle

IN FULL SWING

JUNE 2019

We’re really getting into the swing of things now. With two months of our tour down—and some exciting events on the way—we’ve got an epic summer ahead. We’ve visited all our favorite spots in the Blue Ridge Mountains (and discovered some new ones). Later this month, we head to the craggy peaks of Colorado for some high elevation climbing, craft beer sipping, and maybe even snowboarding if the snow stays in the high country. Take a look at the gear that keeps us going through each new adventure. G E A R W E ’ R E LO V I N G

SEA TO SUMMIT: SIGMA 2.2 COOKSET

When it comes to van-ready cookware, Sea To Summit’s Sigma 2.2 Cookset checks all of the boxes. It consists of two marine-grade stainless steel Sigma Pots, two Delta Light Bowls, and two Delta Insul Mugs that all nest neatly inside the largest pot to make the perfect lightweight and compact kitchen set. The Sigma series is Sea To Summit’s most durable cookware option, too, making it perfect for everyday use in the van. $100

DOWNTOWN LEXINGTON | DOWNTOWN ROANOKE | VALLEY VIEW MALL, ROANOKE DOWNTOWN HARRISONBURG | CARYTOWN, RICHMOND | FIRST & MAIN, BLACKSBURG BIG AGNES: SKYLINE UL STOOL

All-Paca for All Seasons

100% Alpaca Layering System — Made In The USA Last year, we introduced the All-Paca® shirt — and a completely new class of performance fabric. But that was just the beginning. In colder months, our 100% alpaca hoodies, buffs and beanies allow you to layer up and keep warm. And our original performace shirts are perfect on their own to stay cool and dry on those hot summer hikes. See more of our 100% alpaca gear on Instagram @AppGearCo.

P.O. Box 5430 | Charlotte NC 28299 | appalachiangearcompany.com | 48

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The Skyline UL Stool is the perfect companion for minimalist packers who want to roll extra light, or van-dwellers who want to save space. Weighing in at about one pound, this stool packs down so small it fits inside a large-mouth water bottle. This is the smallest addition to the Big Agnes line of camp furniture and your butt will thank you for packing it when you don’t have to sit in the dirt after a long day on the trail. $80

LEKI: MICRO VARIO CARBON BLACK SERIES

In a way, using these trekking poles is like driving a sports car. They are made out of 100-percent carbon, making them some of the lightest and strongest poles on the market. And at just seven ounces per pole, they are perfect for climbing, trail running, or small tours. The folding poles pack down and expand in a second and are easy to stash in a crowded van or gear closet. $250

SCHEDULE

6/6 - 6/9

WANDERLUST SNOWSHOE, WV

6/13 - 6/16

FRANKLIN, VA VISIT FRANKLIN VA

You Are Being Poisoned

THERE ARE KNOWN CARCINOGENS IN YOUR FRYING PAN, DENTAL FLOSS, AND FAVORITE OUTDOOR J A C K E T. D O C U M E N TA R Y L E A D B U C K Y B A I L E Y F I G H T S F O R H I S F A M I LY ’ S H E A LT H — A N D Y O U R S . B U C K Y B A I L E Y AT H I S H O M E IN VIRGINIA. / PHOTO BY ELLEN KANZINGER

BY ELLEN KANZINGER

he story of C8 and the DuPont plant in Parkersburg, W. Va. is a complicated one. It’s a story of lies and deceit, livelihoods and lives lost. It’s the story of a chemical that has remained in the environment for decades and the people dealing with its very real effects today. One of those people, William “Bucky” Bailey, moved away from the Parkersburg community at a young age. He now lives on the border of Virginia and West Virginia, where the two state governments argue over who is responsible for maintaining the road. “I love living up here in Northern Virginia, just far enough out of the city where I can walk outside of my house and not hear anything,” he said. Bailey is one of the lead figures in the documentary The Devil We Know, which tells the story of the contamination of the Parkersburg community and the subsequent DuPont cover up. In 1951, DuPont started using C8, a perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), at their plant in Parkersburg for the production of Teflon. This water, grease, and stain repellent coating has been used in a variety of products, including cookware, apparel, and upholstery. For more than 50 years, the company released the byproduct of Teflon into the air and water surrounding the plant, knowing the health impacts

the chemical could have on the environment and people living in the area. A study done by 3M, the original manufacturers of C8, found the chemical caused a variety of health problems in rats, including some birth defects. Sue Bailey worked at the Parkersburg plant with the C8 waste while she was pregnant with her third child. When Bucky Bailey was born in January 1981, he had similar birth defects to his nose and eye that were found in the rats. Soon after Sue Bailey returned to work at the plant, DuPont transferred all female employees out of areas where they might come in contact with C8. A few years later, the Bailey family moved away from the Parkersburg area. But Sue Bailey kept thinking about the link between working at the DuPont plant and her son. “My mom knew what was up,” Bailey said. “She knew what the links were. My grandpa had made notes of my blood level. She knew she had evidence. We went back to talk to some lawyers and pretty much had doors shut in our face. So, we kind of just let it go. At the point, I am seven, eight, nine years old and I’ve got half a nose. I’d probably already had 15 to 20 surgeries on my face.” For most of his childhood, Bailey didn’t think much about confronting DuPont. “From ages 10 to 22, my concern was getting

past these surgeries,” he said. “I had surgeries that were in excess of eight hours where 120 stitches were put in my face at one time. Rib cartilage was taken out. Balloons in my forehead to stretch my skin. So, at that point, I wasn’t really worried about DuPont. I was worried about questions like: Am I going to be able to go to school in the fall? Am I going to be able to be normal? Am I going to be able to have a girlfriend?”

Hitting the National News In 2001, attorney Rob Bilott brought a class-action suit against DuPont on behalf of residents in the area. During the discovery phase of the trial, thousands of documents came out about what DuPont and 3M knew about the chemical. The Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit dedicated to researching and educating the public on environmental issues, published many of those documents online for the public to see. “One of the reasons that we know a lot about the health effects of these chemicals are because of that original trial in Parkersburg, West Virginia,” said David Andrews, a senior scientist with the Environmental Working Group. “One of the unique agreements that came out of that trial was that DuPont paid for a scientific study, as well as JUNE 2019 | BLUERIDGEOUTDOORS.COM

A M A P C R E AT E D B Y T H E E N V I R O N M E N TA L W O R K I N G G R O U P I L L U S T R AT E S W H E R E P F A S P O L L U T I O N H A S B E E N F O U N D I N D R I N K I N G WAT E R , A I R P O R T S , M I L I TA R Y B A S E S , I N D U S T R I A L P R O P E R T Y, A N D OTHER SITES.

monitoring of the surrounding community. Just over 70,000 people were studied. They measured the blood levels of PFOA and then they looked at health outcomes. These studies led to probable link reports where the higher concentrations were linked to a number of specific health outcomes.” From 2005 to 2013, the C8 Science Panel studied people in six water districts in the Mid-Ohio Valley for links between exposure to the PFOA chemical and a number of diseases. The panel determined that high cholesterol, ulcerative colitis, thyroid disease, testicular cancer, kidney cancer, and pregnancy-induced hypertension could all be linked to exposure to C8. C8 is just one chemical under the family of chemicals known as per- or polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). There are an estimated 4,800 chemicals in this family, although the Environmental Protection agency says that only 600 of those have been commercially active in the last ten years. Studies done by the Centers for Disease Control under the Department of Health and Human 50

BLUE RIDGE OUTDOORS | JUNE 2019

Services found these “forever chemicals” in the blood of nearly every American. “Carbon-fluorine bonds are incredibly sturdy, and they don’t break down under any normal environmental process,” Andrews said. “Once these chemicals are released into the environment, they are essentially there forever. When released into the ground, released into the water, it will be there for years, centuries, millennia. They will spread out over time, but because of how potent they are at incredibly low concentrations, that may actually make the problem much worse.” Bailey was newly married when he learned about the investigation and suit. He remembered his mother talking about the link between C8 and his deformities, something he hadn’t focused on in his childhood. While Bailey participated in the medical study, the panel determined there was not enough of a significant sample size to link his deformities with the chemical. “Since the deformities were not found as part of the conclusion of that study, I waived my right to pursue any type of litigation against DuPont,” he said. “I’ve never expected to get a dime from DuPont. I don’t expect to get a dime from DuPont.

High levels of perfluorinated chemicals are found in breast milk around the world A recently published report shows that women around the world are transmitting perfluorinated chemicals to their babies via breast milk. Studies have found that the breast milk in women all over the globe contains chemicals well beyond levels deemed safe by governments. Perfluorinated chemicals are used on non-stick pans and hundreds of other products and have been found in the breast milk of women in 19 countries in Europe, Asia and North America. Early exposure to these chemicals can cause lifelong damage. Studies have shown that prenatal exposure to perfluorinated chemicals can impact the development of the nervous system and a baby’s immunity. Studies have also shown the chemicals can affect vaccine response, asthma, kidney function, obesity, and the age at which young girls start their period. DuPont, which began using perfluorinated chemicals to make Teflon in the 1940s, has known since the 1980s that women pass the chemicals onto their newborns.

That’s not what drives me. People have lost so much. I’m sitting here today. I’m healthy. I’ve got a healthy wife, a healthy kid. That’s more to me than anything.” However, Bailey continues to speak out about the issue. At several points after the class-action suit, he thought the story of Dupont and C8 would break big time on the national scene. He sat down for countless interviews with 20/20, The Intercept, The Huffington Post, and BBC News, as well as several mini documentaries. But each time a new article was released, or documentary premiered, nothing seemed to happen at the institutional level. “I hate to be the pessimist, but I don’t think anything will ever quantify what needs to be done,” Bailey said. “There’s no story that can be told, there’s nothing, no matter how big this is, no matter the hundreds of millions of dollars, there is still nothing compared to the profit that they have made and are still making. I think that the only thing that’s going to have an effect is shutting down this product and shutting down this company.” Although DuPont and other companies voluntarily discontinued their use of PFOA, replacements such as GenX have already been found in places like the Cape Fear River in North Carolina. “All of them have very little health and safety data,” Andrews said. “The information we do have for some of those replacements is incredibly concerning. GenX is one of these replacement chemicals. Nearly a dozen studies indicated very similar health impacts as PFOA. I think some of those assumptions the EPA made over the last decade when allowing all these new chemicals on the market are really coming into question now in terms of the adequacy of that review. Our concern is that the bar was way too low.” So far, the EPA has not set a national standard for the presence of PFAS chemicals in drinking water. “With where we’re at today with the EPA, I don’t have any hope,” Bailey said. “There is nothing being done. There are no federal standards against the chemicals unless it’s poison gas. If it can be consumed and not kill you, we’re going to allow it. It’s not going to change until we hold people to a higher standard. Unfortunately, the issue with that is one person doesn’t think that they can do it by themselves and it doesn’t matter. That’s where our mentality has to change. My single action, my individual actions will make a difference.”

Moving Forward

In 2018, The Devil We Know premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. Although Bailey had seen pieces of the rough draft, it wasn’t until opening night that he saw the film in its entirety. Some of the footage he had never seen before that night, including testimonies from several DuPont employees. “This was worth it, every long night of filming,” he said. “I look back over my life and it was even worth it going through the struggles that I did just to be able to share my story. I’m a Christian believer and

this kind of affirmed my faith that we all go through things for a reason. We all have to be a testimony. We all have to understand that we don’t always have it the worst off. There’s always someone else. But we still need to speak up, be the light, and do what we can.” Unlike some of the smaller documentaries Bailey participated in, production for The Devil We Know lasted around three years. In that time, the Baileys welcomed a son. “I was having conversations with my mother that were real,” Bailey said. “Nothing was ever staged. Some of the camera shots were staged but that was about it. That was real conversation, real concerns that I had with my son being born, about my father not being here. Just being able to talk to my dad to know what he felt during this point. Or thinking about what my mom had to go through. It was raw.” Since then, the film has premiered all over the world and is now available for streaming on Netflix and Amazon. In February, the EPA released an action plan on fluorinated chemicals. “The action plan seemed to be almost exactly the same as what the EPA said they were doing over a decade ago,” Andrews said. “Most of it was a plan to further study these chemicals, look into setting a drinking water limit. They laid out a lot of different options but really took no specific action on these chemicals. That’s the part that’s sorely needed here. Ultimately, we think that the companies and manufacturers that made and released these chemicals into the environment should be responsible for paying for the cleanup and clean drinking water.” Without a concrete plan moving forward at the institutional level, individuals like Bailey are continuing to speak up about the harmful effects of these chemicals in our water. “The revenge doesn’t drive me,” Bailey said. “I don’t want to sound like I don’t want justice for people, because I do. There has to be some justice for these people. I’m fine with not taking another step towards DuPont for myself. I’m not okay with hearing about chemical dumping in my country. I’m not okay with hearing this chemical is in the water in the Cape Fear River. That’s not okay to me and that drives me more each day to spread the word. I’ve got a beautiful son and a daughter on the way. They’re going to have to live in this world and drink water and take showers. That’s what drives me to never give up. To not let it fall by the wayside as it tends to do so easily.” As his children grow up, Bailey hopes to pass on the same resiliency that his parents taught him. “There were times that I thought I was at my breaking point, but God had other plans,” he said. “There were times when I thought that my life wasn’t worth living, to be honest. I had so many battles, but my parents pushed and pulled me. They gave me the support that I need. I hope that’s what I’ve done for them. For them to be able to have a voice no matter what and to speak up for others.” WATCH VIDEO EXCERPTS OF OUR INTERVIEW WITH BUCKY BAILEY AT BLUERIDGEOUTDOORS.COM

Where are they? Scientists are still studying the effects PFAS chemicals can have on the human body and health. But if you’re worried about exposure, you might want to check some of these everyday items that contain a variety of PFAS chemicals. Drinking water PFAS chemicals have been found in water sources all around the country. Check out the Environmental Working Group’s interactive map online for sites and sources where fluorinated chemicals have been detected.

Food packaging Skip the fast food and microwave popcorn. A study done by the Environmental Working Group found PFAS chemicals on the wrappers used by most major fast food companies, including Taco Bell, Chick-fil-A, and Jimmy John’s. The inside of most microwave popcorn bags is also coated with these chemicals.

Cookware PFAS chemicals are used in most nonstick cookware such as Teflon. Stainless steel and cast iron cookware are better options.

Clothing If you’re spending a lot of time outdoors, chances are you have water-repellent clothes and gear. Items labeled with Teflon, Scotchgard, Stainmaster, or Gore-Tex usually contain PFAS. chemicals.

Home items Many stain and water-repellant fabrics, polishes, waxes, cleaning products, paints, fire-fighting foam use these chemicals. Check your sunscreen, shampoo, makeup, dental floss, and cosmetics for ingredients that include “fluoro” or “perfluoro” ingredients.

Zen and the Art of Winning Leadville TWO YEARS AFTER BREAKING HER LEG AND A DOCTOR TELLING HER SHE HAD TO QUIT RUNNING, THIS ZEN STUDENT TOOK FIRST PLACE IN ONE OF THE HARDEST ENDURANCE R A C E S O N T H E P L A N E T. A L L IT TOOK WAS A LITTLE BIT OF WHITESNAKE AND AN UNDERSTANDING THAT WINNING IS NOTHING MORE THAN THE R I V E R U N D E R YO U R F E E T.

B Y K AT I E A R N O L D

P H O T O C O U R T E S Y K AT I E A R N O L D

he day before the start of the Leadville Trail 100 Run, I was walking down the mining town’s main drag when I passed a dilapidated white Victorian. It had peeling gingerbread trim and two sunfaded whitewater kayaks beached on the frontporch railing. The front door looked fused shut, as if it hadn’t been opened in years. Painted above a window was a sign that read “Cosmology Energy Museum.” And above that “Divine Spirit Over Matter.” I stopped in my tracks. In less than 24 hours, I’d toe the line of my first 100-mile race. I had no idea what lay ahead, but I understood that in order to make it through the mountains to the finish, I’d need more than physical stamina and sheer willpower. I’d need heart and humility, a little bit of luck and a lot of grace. I’d need divine spirit over matter. Two years earlier, I’d broken my left leg in a whitewater rafting accident. My orthopedist had advised me never to run again. “Find a new hobby,” he said dismissively. He put in a piece of metal the shape of a baking spatula just below my knee that you could see through my skin. I was 46 years old. The farthest I’d ever run before was 62 miles. I didn’t have a coach or a training plan. All I had were the Sangre de Cristo Mountains out my back door and a copy of the book Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind, written in 1971 by the Japanese Zen master Shunryu Suzuki Roshi. My friend, the well-known Zen writer Natalie Goldberg, had given it to me—with a caveat. “It’s a classic,” she told me, “but you might not understand it.” Buddhism, by definition, is beyond definition, sometimes even explanation. The minute I started reading, though, I understood everything. Not with my brain, but in my body. I understood Zen Mind because I understood running. Suzuki Roshi was writing about sitting, but I realized that if I replaced “sitting” with running, he and I were speaking the same language. After all, the tenets of Zen—form, repetition, stamina and suffering—aren’t so different from the principles of ultra running. If I could apply his teachings to my running, maybe I could train my mind and spirit to be as strong as my body. Maybe even stronger. I had no idea how to do this, of course. I’d been a runner my whole life, but I was a rookie when it came to Buddhism. It was refreshing to be so clueless. “If your mind is empty,” Suzuki Roshi writes, “it is already ready for anything; it is open to everything. In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities. In the expert’s mind, there are few.” There was so much about running 100 miles I didn’t know: Could I tolerate the distance and impact? Did I still have the drive to run so far? I’d run and won races at every distance from 5K to 100K; I’d set course records. But now I was a beginner all over again. My Leadville training was unconventional. I didn’t tabulate my weekly mileage or worry about JUNE 2019 | BLUERIDGEOUTDOORS.COM

speed work. I focused just as much on sitting still as on running fast. Most mornings before I left for the trails, I tried to meditate outside in our garden. I didn’t have much stamina—the most I could manage before getting antsy was five to eight minutes, or if I was feeling really motivated, 10. I almost always read a few pages of Zen Mind first, hoping the teaching would soak into my subconscious as I sat and become part of my muscle memory as I ran. One of the central ideas in Zen Mind is to sit without trying to achieve results, without what Suzuki Roshi calls “gaining idea.” This one was harder to practice. I’m a competitive runner and competitive athletes by nature have a gaining idea: to win. I run because I love to move through the mountains on my own two feet, to feel free and alive and to feel stories move through me as I run. But winning is addictive. It feeds the ego. I’d have to re-learn how to run without trying to win, for the pure joy of it. In June, I went to Leadville for a three-day training camp. The first day on the trail, I was in a hurry. I kept looking at my watch, trying to figure out how many miles I’d run and how many still remained. I was running out in front of myself, not in my body but ahead of my restless mind, and the 26 miles felt more like 50. The second day, I vowed to let go of time and try to let the mountains carry me up and over 12,600-foot Hope Pass twice. I felt light and free, exhilaratingly happy, completely present. Later, at the finish, a man with a handlebar mustache whom I’d passed on the climb, came over to me and asked

JULY 20, 2019

incredulously, “Where’s your motor?” Without thinking, I answered, “In the river beneath my feet.” He looked at me strangely, and smiled, the sort of half-hearted, quizzical smile you give someone when you have no idea what they’re talking about. But I knew what I meant in my body, if not my brain. That the mountains, like water, have a flow, an energy; they are older and wiser and they can carry me, just as rivers have always carried me, even on the day I broke my leg. There is a current, and you can fight it or you can go with it and ride it. The 13thcentury Zen master Dogen explained it as being in time. This was how I wanted to run the Leadville 100. I knew if I pushed against time or tried to race it, I would create more resistance and suffering for myself. But if I could tap into the way it naturally flows, and ride that current, then it would carry me along and do some of the hard work for me.

ix weeks later, I drove back to Leadville for the race. As I came into town, I was so overcome by the 14,000-foot peaks that I had to pull over on the side of the road, suffused with gratitude just to be there at the start of a 100-mile race—healthy, after everything I’d been through. I felt then that whatever happened, good, bad or ugly, finish or drop, would be icing on the cake. Leadville would be a celebration of the journey I’d traveled to get there. I was open to whatever the race would teach me. At 3 a.m. before the start, I woke in the dark

and wolfed down two bowls of instant oatmeal and wrote two words in black Sharpie on the back of my hand: smile and flow. I wanted to move with the mountains the way I had in June, and to remember the joy that I’d always felt when I ran, that was the reason why I ran. I can tell you what happened next. The gun went off, and I ran into the still-black night with nearly 800 other people, determined not to go out too fast. In front of me, in the first light of morning, a male runner with a John Denver bob and a fanny pack screamed Lead-FUCKING-ville! and I screamed it back, spontaneous rallying cry and war whoop and pure glee all rolled into one. It rained and the sun came out. I ate GU and drank Coke and sang Men at Work songs with my husband, Steve, as he paced me over Hope Pass. I caught up with the first-place woman and passed her. I saw the most gorgeous enormous llamas and my daughters wearing whoopie cushion costumes and complete strangers cheering my name and old friends I’d known for years and others I’d just met but felt like I’d known forever. I ran through a river in wet sneakers and cranked White Snake’s “Here I Go Again” in my ear buds and watched the sun set. And the more I smiled, the more I flowed, and the more I flowed, the more I smiled—a perfect feedback loop. None of this, though, accounts for what really happened. Flow with the river of time, I told myself as I ran. And I did, for 100 miles and nearly 20 hours. It was almost midnight and drizzling as I approached the finish line, but with 50 yards to go, the clouds

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drifted apart and a shooting star streaked through the opening, a brief white flashing in the black night—a kind of magic, here and then gone. In Zen there’s an idea called “no gap,” in which there’s no longer any distinction between who you think you are and who you are, between you and all the different parts of yourself, between you and the world. “When this happens, all of life gets behind you,” Natalie once told me. “The trees and the dirt and the mountains and people. Everything.” All the parts of my life—writing and mothering, running and Zen—had converged in Leadville. I’d tapped into something bigger than myself and had ridden it to an outcome I never could have imagined. Like Zen, it defied explanation, replication. You couldn’t understand it with your brain. You had to touch it with another part of your consciousness. As I broke the tape, I felt as though I’d been floating all day and that I could just keep going and going—like time itself. For a little while at least, I’d closed the gap. It wasn’t beginner’s luck that had helped me win Leadville. It was beginner’s mind. Katie Arnold is the author of Running Home: A Memoir. The 2018 Leadville 100 women’s champion, she lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with her husband and two daughters.

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Blood in the Snow KNOXVILLE’S FIRST CLIMBERS TO SUMMIT EVEREST HELP SAVE A SHERPA ALONG THE WAY BY JOHN QUILLEN

ANG DAWA SHERPA PEEKED HIS HEAD INTO OUR TENT AND

nodded. “Go time” caught me off guard. I was at Camp 4 with my friend Neal Kushwaha and our sherpas—Sange and Dawa—hoping to become the first Knoxvillean to summit Everest. My thoughts went back to two days before on our way up the Lhotse Face. An errant oxygen bottle came soaring down the string of climbers above and missed us by about fifteen feet. Moments later, the mountain itself stirred, sloughing an avalanche of rock from her shoulders. Two other nearby sherpas were hit: one had only superficial injuries, while the other semi-conscious sherpa bled profusely from a gaping head wound. I walked one sherpa to a safe place out of the fall line of rock while Sange and Neal tended to the stricken one. Neal laid him gently down in the soft snow low on the ice face. There was significant trauma. I rummaged through his backpack for some type of bandage to stave the bleeding from his head wound. His skull was cracked open like an egg. Our patient did not know his name or any of his team, who were nowhere to be found. Neal and Sange worked the radio, imploring our base camp manager to organize some type of evacuation. Surprisingly, there was reluctance to expend any resource for the sherpa, given he had no rescue insurance. Already, we had seen half a dozen climbers pass by, unwilling to forfeit valuable summit push time. All I could think to do was have him sit upright while applying pressure from several pairs of socks to his skull. After an hour on the radio, our basecamp manager had managed to cajole a helicopter, but it would require dropping the sherpa several hundred feet down the mountain. This meant sacrificing valuable altitude and energy. Neal and Sange never hesitated. They carried the sherpa to an evacuation spot, knowing that it meant they may not be able to summit Everest after weeks of grueling effort. After the helicopter arrived, Neal and Sange climbed back up to my position. Our team had lost precious time, but together we resumed jugging up one of earth’s highest walls on the afternoon of May 21. It was super late in the season for Everest summits. The majority of the mountain’s climbers had already descended. Precious daylight faded as we gained the most technical portion of Earth’s highest peak in the dark. Hard cold settled into my bones, and I felt the first nips of frostbite. It was 10 p.m. when I collapsed into a tent at the upper end of Camp 3 and guzzled my first sips of bottled oxygen. Neal and I drifted into a somnambulant rhythm of air flowing through valves and hoses into this foreign, rubber death mask. It was good to lie down on our 56

BLUE RIDGE OUTDOORS | JUNE 2019

pillows of steel hard ice. Bluebird skies greeted us the next morning and we were re-energized. But then a sad reminder of mortality greeted us as we passed a climber patiently lowering his dead friend down the mountain in a plastic sled. He had succumbed to altitude just above us at 25,000 feet. For the first time in a month, I felt alone, even with Neal and two sherpas ahead. On the flanks of Everest, I peered skyward to a blank snow face where clouds and wind were settling in. By the time we reached Camp 4, I had all but abandoned the idea of summiting. The sun was but a scattering of orange slivers whose fingertips were barely clinging to this nether land on the boundary of Tibet and death. It was too late for a summit push, so we had to survive the night in a makeshift teepee with buckshot holes at 26,000 feet. It was a fitful and gusty evening. When the weather calmed early the next morning, we began ascending. We were still hours from the summit. Focus was escaping me at points. Nodding off on the rope was dangerous. Several of my toes were no longer viable. Like being at the wheel on an overnight drive, I slapped my legs and pressed onward. From this point there would be no more sleeping. I was miserable, freezing and uncertain. The steady wind beat my frozen face. From a blanket of cloud emerged a sliver of dawn light. It was twenty below zero. I knew my toes were frostbitten. These were unretractable life decision points; niggling moments of discretion or valor. That damned nascent light magnetized Everest, so I decided to press on. The sun crested the mountains, and my face soaked up its warmth. But the light soon gave way to darkening clouds. Lightning was streaking the sky around us on a prominence known as the Balcony. I squeezed an energy gel into my mouth from the side of the oxygen mask which had now rubbed my face raw to the point of bleeding. We switched oxygen tanks and proceeded upward. “We only have one hour,” my sherpa, Dawa yelled. “One hour.” Exactly one hour later, Dawa and I made the final steps to the summit, and I collapsed below a small

brass statue. Prayer flags snapped crisply. We were the only humans on top of Mount Everest. It was just us, the wind, and this expansive earthscape. Our 45 minutes on top of the world passed like the snow blowing off this exposed summit. Soon, Dawa was goading me off the Earth’s ceiling. During our long descent, I stumbled frequently. For the first time on this expedition, I could see Dawa tiring, too. Night was enfolding the Himalayas again, and I fell once more. I remember thinking that I could just lie contentedly right here on the snow. Just a few winks and all would be fine. Then I slapped myself and kept moving, wondering how many climbers had permanently succumbed to that very temptation. We descended on the last night of summits in 2018. Only six other humans departed that evening before the mountain closed her doors for the year. I spilled back into camp that night, removed boots, and examined my waxy, frostbitten toes. The next day, we limped back into basecamp, where we were greeted by a brother of the sherpa we had assisted. He was anxiously anticipating our arrival at the base of the icefall to let us know that the sherpa, Cherring Dorje, had survived. He expressed his family’s gratitude with the offer of a Coca-Cola for the four of us. My frostbitten toes eventually healed, but my heart was permanently swollen. The mountain—and my team—dispatched me with blessings untold. Still today, from my comfortable life in Knoxville, I relish each morning with the rising sun and steam from a hot cup of gratitude. When lightning streaks a clear, black sky and storms rumble in from on high, I reach into a back pocket filled with dream dust and scatter some for the coming 24, remindful, reverent, and humble.

THE GOODS

PADDLING GEAR

FREDDY'S FAVORITES

MORE GEAR

SWEETWATER BREWERY FOUNDER PICKS HIS GO-TO GEAR B Y G R A H A M AV E R I L L

SWEETWATER BREWERY HAS ALWAYS HAD A

connection with the South’s rivers, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years through their “Save Our Water” program. The Atlanta-based brewery is solidifying that commitment through their new Guide Beer, an easy-drinking lager developed through a partnership with a dozen pro river guides. The beer is good, particularly on a hot day, but even better, is the fact that 11% of Guide Beer’s profits go to creating a support fund for guides who can’t work because of injury or sickness. “It’s a way to come full circle and celebrate the guides that are taking us on the river,” says SweetWater’s founder, Freddy Bensch. “I’m so excited about this community effort to create a way to bail someone out who might be in trouble.” Bensch spends much of his free time on the water, paddling and fishing with friends both in the Southeast and in his home in Colorado, but he never quite took the leap to pro guide status. “I love guiding friends on the river, but I’m just good enough to be dangerous.” We asked Bensch about his musthave gear for a day on the river. Here are his picks in his own words.

F R E D D Y B E N S C H I S F O U N D E R O F S W E E T WA T E R B R E W E R Y, W H O S E ' S AV E O U R WA T E R ' P R O G R A M H E L P S P R O T E C T R I V E R S A C R O S S T H E S O U T H E A S T.

down the river with friends and listening to tunes. These speakers are totally waterproof and you can strap them to the boat pretty easily. I usually bring a couple and link them up for great sound. $40; braven.com

Yeti Hopper Flip 12 Obviously, I’m not going anywhere without a cooler of beer. If I can pull my truck right up to the boat, then I’ll take a hardsided Yeti, but most of the time, I carry the soft-sided Hopper Flip 12, which is big enough for a full day of beer, but easy enough to carry and stash in a raft. $250; yeti.com

Thomas and Thomas Avantt

Simms Solarflex

If I’m on the river, I’m definitely bringing this dry fly rod. It’s 9’ long and 5wt. I have a bunch of different rods, but this is my go-to right now. $845; thomasandthomas.com

Spend all day on the river and the sun can be brutal, so a sun-shirt is key. The Solarflex is light, so you can wear it on a hot day, and has built in UPF 50 sun protection. And the hood is key. I’m not going unless the sun-shirt has a hood. $70; simmsfishing.com

Costa Bloke I can’t go anywhere without sunglasses. These are my go-to for anything on the water, and I’ll change the lenses depending on the conditions. I bring a few pairs because I tend to lose them. $250; costadelmar.com

Braven 105 There’s nothing better than floating

Guide Beer We’re getting older so we can’t drink 15 420 Extra Pale Ales anymore. So, we created Guide Beer, which is just 4%ABV. This is what’s stocked in the cooler now. But I also throw a couple of IPAs into the cooler, and a few bigger beers for the end of the day too. sweetwaterbrew.com

APPALACHIAN GEAR COMPANY ALLPACA SHIRT ($35) AND HOODIE ($105) Made from 100% alpaca fiber, the All-Paca shirt and hoodie are part of a completely new class of performance fabric built to stay cool and dry on summer adventures while keeping you warm in the winter. The AllPaca is all-natural, engineered by nature, and manufactured in the U.S. in an environmentally responsible process. Alpaca fiber is naturally moisture managing, temperature-regulating, moistureresistant, and lightweight—ideal for Appalachian adventures in all seasons. Appalachian Gear Co. uses all natural fibers—so you don’t have to worry about synthetics that shed microplastics or any cancercausing PFAS. Appalachian Gear Co. products also feature extradurable seams built for rugged outdoor use and a jersey knit that provides exceptional strength and recovery. NATHAN VAPOR AIR 7.0L 2.0 MEN’S HYDRATION PACK Your next long run will feel lighter and easier with the Vapor Air 2.0, a body-mapped hydration with adjustable sizing system, two-litre bladder with quick release valve, breathable, chafe-free materials for maximum comfort, and plenty of pockets for gels, phones, and other gear. ($150) MOUNTAIN KHAKIS BISON BOXER BRIEFS Lightweight, breathable, quick dry and designed for comfort, the boxer briefs are 92% nylon / 8% spandex. The fabric blend keeps everything cool and dry. The boxer briefs also have flatlock seams that ensure all-day, all-night comfort, and an articulated front to keep everything in place. ($26)

SEAL LINE PRO DRY PACK The PVCfree largecapacity waterproof Pro™ is the portage pack of choice for big river running, frequent portaging, and worry-free expedition travel. Engineered with fully-adjustable suspension designed for comfort on long hauls, this premium system offers soft-edged, padded shoulder straps, a full-length breathable back panel, and lumbar padding. The harness also offers the option to detach the straps and waist belt to streamline the pack for travel and dry bag use. The Pro is available in 70L & 120L. ($199) TOAD & COMPANY MIDFIELD HEMP CREW The Midfield Hemp is extra tough (but still soft) thanks to an extra-tight weave of a 45% organic cotton / 55% hemp blend. The forward shoulder seam makes it backpackfriendly. ($70)

MOUNTAIN KHAKIS ORIGINAL PANT This mid-rise, straight leg pant is an outdoor classic. The four-way stretch panels provide durability and mobility for rugged adventure. ($99) OSPREY KATARI 7 HYDRATION PACK The light, airy, and low-profile Katari 7 is versatile and comfortable on the trail. The 2.5-liter reservoir slips into an external hydration sleeve with a magnetic bite valve attaching to the sternum strap. A vertical front zip pocket is roomy enough to carry the essentials, like a spare tube and tools or a rain jacket, with side mesh pocket for extras. ($75)

JUNE 2019 | BLUERIDGEOUTDOORS.COM

TRAIL MIX

FIVE BLUE RIDGE SUMMER TOURS

SOUNDS OF SUMMER

5 BIG TOURS ROLLING THROUGH THE SOUTH BY JEDD FERRIS

PACKAGE TOURS ARE PLENTIFUL THIS SUMMER.

Acts are teaming up with like-minded contemporaries to fill the open air with sound at amphitheaters across the South and beyond. If you’re looking to catch some live music under the stars, check out these five tours leaving footprints in the Blue Ridge.

Wheels of Soul Tour Guitar hero Derek Trucks and his wife, Grammy-winning blues singer Susan Tedeschi, are carrying the torch of experimental Southern-flavored rootsrock with the Tedeschi Trucks Band. The hard-touring 12-piece outfit delivers joyful shows that highlight Trucks’ blazing slide licks and Tedeschi’s deeply soulful vocals, backed by a powerful band that includes tight rhythm and horn sections. Earlier this year the band released the dynamic new studio album, Signs, which blends uplifting gospel-minded songcraft and greasy instrumental interplay. For the fifth straight year the group is leading the Wheels of Soul Tour, a multi-band caravan that will also feature Blackberry Smoke and Shovels & Rope. 58

Appearing at: Heritage Park Amphitheatre in Simpsonville, S.C., on July 6, PNC Music Pavilion in Charlotte, N.C., on July 7, and Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek in Raleigh, N.C., on July 9.

The Flaming Lips with the Claypool Lennon Delirium Things should get wonderfully weird on this tour featuring alt-rock innovators the Flaming Lips and the Claypool Lennon Delirium—a growing side project featuring Les Claypool of Primus and indie rocker Sean Lennon, who, in case you don’t know, is the son of John Lennon and Yoko Ono. Both acts will be touting new material, as the Flaming Lips will unveil their fifteenth studio album, Kings Mouth, an effort that features help from the Clash’s Mick Jones, on July 19. As for the Claypool Lennon Delirium, which often sounds like the cosmic side of the Beatles boosted by prog-rock bombast, the group released a sophomore album, South of Reality, back in February. Particle Kid, the freak-folk project of Willie Nelson’s son, Micah, will open the shows. Appearing at: Metro Credit Union Amphitheatre in Charlotte, N.C., on August 5, Sprint Pavilion in Charlottesville, Va., on August 6, and Red Hat Amphitheater in Raleigh, N.C., on August 7.

BLUE RIDGE OUTDOORS | JUNE 2019

JJ Grey & Mofro and Jonny Lang Feeling like a down-and-dirty dose of the blues? Catch this double bill with ace guitarist Jonny Lang and swampsoul rocker JJ Grey and his gritty backing band. An abundance of vocal howling and scale shredding will be perfect for humid Southern nights, as these two acts both have decades of original material to mine at these shows. A big bonus is opening act the North Mississippi Allstars, supporting all shows in our region. Appearing at: Modell Performing Arts Center in Baltimore, Md., on July 11, Penn’s Peak in Jim Thorpe, Pa., on July 12, SERVPRO Richmond Pavilion in Glen Allen, Va., on July 17, and Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn., on July 19.

Father John Misty and Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit On the wry, self-referential “Mr. Tillman,” from last year’s album God’s Favorite Customer, Father John Misty sings about an extended hotel stay, and in the first verse he relays a line from a desk clerk: “Jason Isbell’s here as well, and he seems a little worried about you.” All concerns should be addressed when Isbell, an Americana star, and Misty (real name Josh Tillman), the indie folk-rock troubadour, cross the country together on an extended tour. While a somewhat unlikely pairing, both artists have recently made significant

critical impacts in their respective independent music worlds, and this run of gigs—a mix of large theaters and amphitheaters—should put them both in front of new fans. Appearing at: Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Md., on June 21, Altria Theater in Richmond, Va., on June 24, and Koka Booth Amphitheater in Cary, N.C., on June 25

Kacey Musgraves Texas native Kacey Musgraves took her twangy sound well beyond country with her colorfully expansive latest album Golden Hour, which won Album of the Year at the Grammy Awards earlier this year. Since January she’s been delivering the beloved record’s material on stage on her high-energy Oh, What a World Tour, moving between standouts like the mystical folk tune “Slow Burn” and the disco-infused groove of “High Horse.” A second leg of the tour hits the South in early September, but act fast; at last check there weren’t many tickets left. Appearing at: Wolf Trap in Vienna, Va., on September 7, Sprint Pavilion in Charlottesville, Va., on September 13, Koka Booth Amphitheater in Cary, N.C., on September 25, and the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville, N.C., on September 16-17.

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Dead Bears on the Highway BEAR COLLISIONS WITH VEHICLES ARE INCREASING, ESPECIALLY IN PLACES LIKE INTERSTATE 40 ADJACENT TO GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK. WHAT CAN BE DONE TO KEEP THE ROADS SAFE FOR MOTORISTS AND WILDLIFE? BY ELLEN KANZINGER

lthough Interstate 40 runs 2,560 miles from the coast of North Carolina to California, a 28-mile stretch through the Smokies is the deadliest and most dangerous. The Smokies section of Interstate 40 winds through the Pigeon River Gorge and alongside Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Cherokee and Pisgah National Forests. It's one of the wildest spots on the map, and also one of the most heavily traveled by vehicles. The corridor is the intersection of wildlife habitat and human safety. Now, a team of transportation officials and wildlife biologists are studying the corridor. Dr. Liz Hillard, a wildlife scientist with the Wildlands Network, is one of the lead scientists on the project, studying animal behavior and how they interact with the roadway. “Interstate 40 acts as barriers to animal movement, whether it’s reducing habitat connectivity 60

BLUE RIDGE OUTDOORS | JUNE 2019

or just increasing animal mortality,” she said. Bear, deer, and elk also pose a danger to the people driving through this mountainous landscape at high speeds. Over 26,000 vehicles pass through this corridor every day. When Interstate 40 opened through the Pigeon River Gorge in 1968, the bear population was a fraction of what it is today. With an estimated population of more than 1,500 in the area today, bears are increasingly attempting to cross the road in search of food and habitat. “These animals did not evolve with the road there,” said Jeff Hunter, senior program manager at the National Parks Conservation Association. “They’ve been moving across this landscape for millennia. These travel corridors are a learned behavior. Adults teach the young how to move

A FEMALE BEAR LOOKS FOR THE BEST OPPORTUNITY TO CROSS AS H E R C U B S S U R R O U N D H E R AT T H E G U A R D R A I L O N I - 6 4 I N V I R G I N I A N E A R S H E N A N D O A H N AT I O N A L P A R K A N D T H E B L U E R I D G E PA R K WAY. / IMAGE COURTESY OF BRIDGET DONALDSON, VIRGINIA T R A N S P O R TAT I O N R E S E A R C H C O U N C I L .

through this landscape.” Hunter and Hillard are part of a coalition of stakeholders working on identifying hotspots where wildlife vehicle collisions are more likely to occur and finding solutions to prevent future damages. The project is also a proactive attempt to prevent a similar situation from happening with the growing elk population. Elk had largely been eliminated from the landscape by the late 1700s until the species was reintroduced to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 2001. A full-grown bull elk can weigh upwards of 900

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pounds, causing more damage to cars and injuries to drivers than bears and deer. A report issued by the Federal Highway Administration estimated that over 300,000 vehicular accidents in the United States are caused by wildlife every year. These collisions result in more than $8.3 billion annually in car repairs, medical bills, and law enforcement services.

SAFE PASSAGE

From an ecological perspective, Interstate 40 probably never should have been built in its current location. It’s one of the most dangerous stretches of interstate anywhere in the U.S. It also bisects some of the most biologically diverse public lands and creates a major barrier to wildlife movement. Adding underpasses or overpasses would not only help animals safely cross major roadways but would also reduce the money spent on accidents and prevent future human injuries. Hunter hopes the study will answer some important questions. “Where are animals being killed? Why? Is it the topography? Is it the ridges? Are they following streams? What is it about the landscape that the road cuts through that’s causing animals to be killed with greater frequency in some areas than others?” The study includes a GPS collaring program of 11 elk in the area. A satellite confirms the elk’s location every hour, allowing researchers to understand their movement patterns along these roadways, specifically where they’re crossing. "We'll also learn how these roadways might be barriers to movement,"

BLUE RIDGE OUTDOORS | JUNE 2019

A P PA L A C H I A I S T H E M O S T I M P O R TA N T W I L D L I F E M I G R AT I O N ROUTE IN THE C O U N T R Y. T H I S M A P SHOWS THE MAJOR A N I M A L M I G R AT I O N S A C R O S S T H E U N I T E D S TAT E S ; ANIMALS RELY ON THE WILDLANDS O F A P PA L A C H I A M O R E T H A N A N Y W H E R E E L S E , W H I C H M A K E S W I L D L I F E C O R R I D O R S E V E N M O R E I M P O R TA N T F O R T H I S R E G I O N . / M A P C O U R T E S Y O F T H E N AT U R E C O N S E R VA N C Y ' S M I G R A T I O N S I N M O T I O N

says Hilliard. "We’ll even be able to figure out seasonally and what months elk are more likely to be in roadways. With this detailed location information, scientists will have a better understanding of where a new culvert or overpass might be beneficial or where an existing structure could be modified to work better.

“Bears do really well with underpasses, as do bobcats,” Hunter said. “White tailed deer will use culverts and underpasses if they are large enough. Elk, not so much. Elk like open landscapes and large structures. Elk like overpasses.” Once the data has been collected, researchers will work with transportation officials and other

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R I C H M O N D / VA B E AC H E D I T I O N | J U N E 2 0 1 9 | B LU E R I D G E O U T D O O R S . C O M

stakeholders to figure out how to blend the science, engineering, and economics. The coalition is looking at a variety of funding sources, from state and federal government funds to private donations. “We have to be sure that we can put some funding mechanisms in place,” said Liz Rutledge, a wildlife specialist with the North Carolina Wildlife Federation. “Usually, that requires public support to get accomplished. This could be used as an example of how you can do conservation and habitat work in other areas of the state for other species. It’s a model of how you develop a network.” While the exact cost of wildlife crossings depends on the location and a number of other factors, building a new structure can cost millions of dollars. Researchers are looking at ways they can improve existing structures, such as adding fencing, to help keep costs down. And land trusts such as the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy (SAHC) are working with the coalition to buy available properties or secure conservation easements throughout the Interstate 40 corridor. SAHC has already purchased two key parcels in the corridor that could provide safe passage for wildlife. One of them, the Wilkins Creek tract—a 187-acre parcel in the Interstate 40 corridor— was just purchased last month using funds donated from a generous philanthropist. The property is across from Great Smoky Mountains National Park, adjacent to the Interstate 40 Welcome Center, and shares a half-mile border with Pisgah National Forest. Best of all, it already has two concrete box culverts that pass under Interstate 40 which wildlife can use

to cross from the park to adjacent national forests. "This property was a top conservation priority for us, and it will provide important permeability and connectivity for wildlife," says Michelle Pugliese, Land Protection Director for SAHC.

DOWN THE ROAD

The Interstate 40 project is only one part of a larger issue concerning habitat connectivity on the East Coast. “In the western United States and Canada, they’ve been doing habitat corridor work for a long time,” Rutledge said. "Now it's heading east." While the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission has been doing some of this corridor work since the 1990s, there is now a push for largerscale projects. “You want large parcels of land that are actually connected where the wildlife can traverse into another habitat for part of their annual cycle,” Rutledge said. “You have to not only expand your habitat but have quality habitat.” Dr. Ron Sutherland, chief scientist for the Wildlands Network, said he and his team are working on mapping a more extensive wildlife corridor that would extend from Everglades National Park to Quebec. Plans for the Eastern Wildway show a wildlife corridor connecting protected places like the Adirondacks, Shenandoah Valley, and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Especially in an era of climate change, the ability of species to move across the landscape enables them to adapt and

survive. “Nobody wants to see a species become inbred in a given park,” Sutherland said. “Maintaining the connections between these places allows genes to flow back and forth and allows populations to maintain healthy levels of genetic diversity.” Looking to the future, a more connected landscape will be important as climate change affects more habitats. “As it continues to get warmer, many species are going to want to migrate northward in this hemisphere and uphill to higher elevations,” Sutherland said. “So, keeping movement pathways open is how we let not just animals, but plants migrate to keep up with their acceptable climate conditions.” While most road crossing projects focus on larger animals like bear and elk, there is less research being done on the smaller animals that are equally important to habitats and ecosystems. “It’s harder to think about how we get box turtles, snakes, or salamanders across an I-40,” Sutherland said. “A chain linked fence doesn’t work very well to guide small animals to a wildlife crossing. It might work well for bear and elk, but a salamander would go right through it.” For now, the Interstate 40 connectivity project will continue to collect data and study the best ways to implement solutions. “If we can connect animals into a broader network of habitats, then they are much more likely to survive," says Sutherland, "especially as more and more people move into Southern Appalachia.”

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BLUE RIDGE OUTDOORS | JUNE 2019

Camping above Montezuma Basin on the Continental Divide Trail, Colorado. Noah Wetzel

THE LAST WORD

RISE OF THE LOCAL PARK

BLUE RIDGE COMMUNITIES LOOK INWARD FOR ACCESS TO THE OUTDOORS B Y WA L L Y S M I T H

WHEN LORENZO RODRIGUEZ ARRIVED IN BIG

Stone Gap, Va. from California several years ago, he saw opportunity. The community of 5,200 residents is surrounded by the Jefferson National Forest, and the Powell River flows right through downtown. "Coming from a big city, we would pay to go somewhere like this," he says. But there was a problem: organized recreation opportunities were few and far between. Rodriguez, now the co-owner of a cycling shop in town, couldn't let that stand. "You have all these gems here, and I just felt like I had to say something." It turns out others had something to say, too. Since then, the town has seen outdoor opportunities blossom within its limits, thanks in part to The Gap Partnership, a coalition of residents and businessowners like Rodriguez. Big Stone Gap has revamped its existing parks, worked to promote a multi-use trail circling town, and hosted a number of events that feature the town's outdoor assets. Plans are also in the works for what would be a premier trail system on town-owned property on nearby High Knob. Now, the outdoor scene that 66

LOCAL PARKS

Rodriguez and others envisioned has become a key part of Big Stone Gap's identity. "It's everything," he says. It's tempting to see Big Stone Gap as just another rural community looking to the outdoors for new economic options. The town's journey, though, could apply to Blue Ridge communities of all types that are looking within their municipal limits for access to trails, crags, and waterways. And even larger cities are getting in on the action. As one example, Johnson City, Tenn.— whose population is more than ten times that of Big Stone Gap—will soon open a mountain biking park near the heart of its downtown. Locally-owned parks aren't a new phenomenon in the Blue Ridge, but the southern mountains may be in the midst of the biggest expansion of locally-managed public lands in their history. What's driving that effort? For Kayla Carter, it all comes down to one word: regionalism. Carter is the outdoor development manager for the Northeast Tennessee Regional Economic Partnership, an organization formed to unite communities surrounding the Johnson City metro. Carter says that outdoor opportunities quickly rose to the forefront of the Partnership's radar. "Outdoor development is one of the most sustainable and innovative approaches to economic development," she explains, "because each community has its own unique assets." The eight-county region forming the core of the Partnership’s outdoor efforts is a flagship example for how explosive locally-based park development can become. Beyond Johnson City's

BLUE RIDGE OUTDOORS | JUNE 2019

Tannery Knobs mountain biking park, nearby Erwin is expanding an existing multi-use trail towards the neighboring town of Unicoi. North of Erwin, Carter County has developed a Doe River Fishing Trail connecting the towns of Roan Mountain and Elizabethton. An effort is also underway to construct an in-town whitewater wave on the Watauga River. And that's all occurring against the backdrop of established destinations like the Appalachian Trail, Rocky Fork State Park, and the Nolichucky River. One risk of creating too many new parks too quickly is that communities might end up turning themselves into competitors, but Carter says organizations like the Partnership are helping prevent those issues through collaborative planning. "What we're trying to accomplish is being a conduit and resource so we can bring the right partners and people together." One such resource is an outdoor action plan that will help manage the region’s menagerie of parks sustainably. Farther south, communities in Western North Carolina are developing new public lands with an added goal in mind: conservation. Recently, a coalition of local governments and nonprofits spearheaded the purchase of several hundred acres near Waterrock Knob, the latest piece in a growing mosaic of conservation lands across the rugged Plott Balsams. More than 400 of those acres will be transferred to the town of Sylva, where they'll be used to expand hiking options at Sylva's popular Pinnacle Park. Nearby, the Eastern Band of Cherokee is interested in expanding outdoor opportunities on a

similar parcel. Bill Holman is North Carolina director with The Conservation Fund, one of the partners that, along with community leaders and conservation trusts, helped purchase those properties. Holman says that communities' shift towards developing their own outdoor destinations has aided conservation efforts across the Blue Ridge, explaining that if groups had been working in the Plott Balsams 25 years ago, success may have been harder to come by. "But now there's very solid support by local governments," he says. "There's just a huge demand for outdoor recreation in Western North Carolina." While keeping up with that demand might ultimately mean more conflicts between recreational users and conservation efforts, Holman stresses that the region's boom of new park development should bring positive outcomes in the short term. "If you want places protected, it's important for people to see them so they love them and speak for them," he says. Carter agrees and emphasizes that developing communities sustainably also means having a long-term view of how to manage their parks. "We want to not only promote but protect those natural places for future generations." And ultimately, she says that all comes back to what's at the core of the region's growth in locally-managed parks, whether that growth is occurring in a booming metropolitan area or a rural community like Big Stone Gap. "It's really the people in these communities that are making the most positive gains."

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